As part of prevention measures, people must prevent water stagnation in their surroundings. 
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Dengue cases are gradually increasing in Karnataka even before the onset of monsoon. From January till April 30 this year, the State has recorded 1,186 cases, six of which required hospitalisation. What is concerning is 51 of these cases are children aged below one year, and 553 are below the age of 18.

Early summer showers, construction activity and water stagnation have led to mosquito breeding and residents across Bengaluru are feeling the sting. In fact, the number of dengue cases saw a sharp rise in the last one month. From 707 positive cases in the week ending March 2, cases shot up to 1,186 as of April 30. With more rains predicted in the coming days, health authorities are gearing up to prevent any outbreak.

Although the number of dengue cases this year is less than those reported during the corresponding period (January to April 30) last year, health authorities are concerned as Karnataka had reported 32,826 cases in 2024, the highest in the country. Karnataka was followed by Tamil Nadu with 27,328 cases, and Kerala with 21,075 cases. 

While 20 dengue deaths were reported in Karnataka in 2024, the third highest in the country, Kerala had recorded 99 deaths, the highest in the country. Maharasthra followed Kerala with 26 deaths.

In 2023, Karnataka had recorded 19,300 dengue cases, and 11 deaths.

Highest from Bengaluru

Ansar Ahmed, State Joint Director, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), said all the six hospitalised cases were reported by the BBMP. As usual, Bengaluru has recorded the highest number of cases so far this year too with 513 (43.2%)  of the total cases being from the city, he said.

Asserting that awareness activities, apart from monitoring and prevention measures, were being stepped up, Dr Ahmed said there is a need for people to avoid water stagnation in their surroundings. “Apart from mosquitoes, the inclement weather is conducive for viruses, bacteria, parasites and a variety of other pathogens to thrive. These can cause viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. Communicable diseases that spread through water, primarily through the feco-oral route, and due to contamination are also common during monsoon, and people have to be vigilant,” Dr Ahmed said.

City-based general physician and diabetologist Haleema Yezdani said, “While heavy rains will wash off mosquitoes and their larvae thereby temporarily preventing breeding, water stagnation post-rain can turn into breeding spots. This can increase the spread of vector-borne diseases.”

Both dengue and dengue-like ailments present with similar symptoms, including high fever lasting four-five days, followed by persistent severe headache, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash for an additional three-four days. People should not ignore any symptoms and should seek medical advice at the earliest, she added.

Dengue notifiable disease

In September 2024, when cases had crossed the 25,000 mark, Karnataka had notified dengue fever, including severe forms of this vector-borne disease as an epidemic disease. The State had amended the regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act 2020, and the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases (Amendment Regulations) 2024 was published in the official gazette.

The uptick in dengue last year had pushed up the demand for platelets. Apart from setting up a toll-free helpline and reserving beds in government hospitals for dengue patients, Karnataka’s Health Department had announced a price cap of ₹300 each on Dengue Elisa NS1 antigen and Dengue Elisa IgM antibody tests in private hospitals and diagnostic laboratories. For a rapid card screening test (NS1, IgM and IgG antibodies), the government has fixed a price of ₹250.