DK sees dengue cases rising steeply

DK sees dengue cases rising steeply

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 19, 2016: Though it is evident the number of malaria cases in Dakshina Kannada district have reduced compared to last year, the Dengue cases are on the rise, said DK district Nodal Officer Dr Rajkumar,  speaking to media on June18, Saturday.

DK district Nodal Officer,  said that due to changes in weather conditions, the month of June usually sees an increase in disease occurrence. Now, with rains  new cases have come up as expected.

He said a total of 225 Dengue cases have been reported in the district since January till June 17, while it was 49 till the end of May last year. Four suspected Dengue deaths have been reported. The death will be confirmed only after death audit committee and state committee confirms it. A total of 1,786 Malaria cases have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district while it was 1,985 cases last year, he said.

A swachata saptaha-a cleanliness drive, is being organised till June 21, to create awareness among the people about maintenance of cleanliness in public places, schools and colleges, government hospitals and public buildings. Accordingly, 350 sites have been identified to create awareness on mosquito-breeding grounds among labourers. The team visited 52 sites on June 17, Friday.

A drive to clean the surroundings of government offices will be held on June 20. The drive to clean public places and hospitals will be held on June 21 and 22 respectively in the district, said the nodal officer.

He went on to say that a lack of knowledge among urbanites on the mosquito-breeding sites is a big factor . Plastic bottles are found all over house compounds in Vamanjoor and so on. There is a need to create awareness on stagnant water a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The coconut shells, bottles thrown in public places become breeding ground for mosquitoes. The public should ensure that water does not stagnate for more than seven days in open tanks and coconut shells.

The ULBs and gram panchayat authorities have been directed to clear the plastic bottles, coconut shells, and tyres and so on dumped in public places.

DHO Dr Sikhander Pasha said that to check the spread of malaria, dengue and chikungunya, seven mobile units have been sanctioned to the district. "Each van will have a nurse, lab equipment and larvicide sprayer. The vans will reach villages and provide medical care and take up larvicidal activities to check mosquito breeding," he said.

Measures have been taken to check the outbreak of malaria and dengue cases in the district.  The private hospitals have been directed to furnish details on the patients to the department of Health and Family Welfare.

He said that the private medical colleges in the district have deployed doctors to 10 PHCs where the number of patients are more. Post-graduate students and interns have been deployed by the medical colleges at Kaniyoor, Indabettu, Dharmasthala, Naravi, Hathyadka, Daivasthala, Mani, Kadaba, Palthadi, Bellare and Guthigaru, to monitor the situation.