Second Suspected Dengue Death Reported in Bengaluru; Dr CN Manjunath Calls for Medical Emergency

Bengaluru is reeling under the threat of dengue, with a second suspected death reported in the city. An 11-year-old boy, Gagan, passed away on July 5 at a private hospital, according to The Hindu. This comes just a week after a 27-year-old man, Abhilash, from Kaggadasapura died due to the viral disease, taking the total number of dengue fatalities in the state to six.

The news has sent shockwaves, prompting Bengaluru Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath to urge the Karnataka government to declare dengue a state medical emergency. As a prominent cardiologist, Dr Manjunath is well aware of the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action. “The cases are soaring close to 7,000 in the state, with six to seven deaths reported. Hassan, Chikmagalur, Bengaluru, and Mysore are among the districts seeing a steep rise in dengue cases,” he said.

Dr Manjunath believes that the government must take swift action to control the infection. “The monsoon rain, coupled with unfinished road work and construction of flyovers and underpasses, is creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Ideally, civic bodies should have finished monsoon-related works during summer, but they are still pending,” he pointed out.

The doctor also emphasized the importance of controlling mosquito breeding to prevent the spread of diseases like chikungunya and zika. He called for the establishment of a task force comprising health officials, urban development authorities, zilla panchayat members, and water supply and sewerage board representatives to effectively manage the current outbreak.

Furthermore, Dr Manjunath stressed the need for schools to take measures to protect children from being infected. “There is no treatment for dengue if the infections get complicated. In most cases, it leads to death,” he warned. He urged school management to hold a meeting to identify ways to prevent the spread of the disease among children.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief, Tushar Giri Nath, however, said that the cause of death is still suspected and that lab tests are being conducted to confirm the diagnosis. “We get a report saying the cause of death is suspected to be dengue, and then we run lab tests and send the report to the Health Department. They check at their end before declaring the cause of death as dengue. So, we cannot declare it as a dengue death until the audit report comes,” he explained.

As the situation continues to unfold, the people of Bengaluru are left wondering what the future holds. Will the government take heed of Dr Manjunath’s warning and declare dengue a state medical emergency? Only time will tell.

Historical Context:

Dengue fever is a viral disease that has been present in India for centuries, with the first recorded outbreak dating back to the 18th century. However, the disease has seen a significant surge in recent years, with the number of cases increasing exponentially since the 1990s. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India accounts for nearly 50% of the global dengue cases, with the majority of cases reported in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

In 2019, Karnataka reported a record 12,000 cases of dengue, with 15 deaths attributed to the disease. The state government had declared dengue a “notifiable disease” in 2018, which means that healthcare providers are required to report all cases to the authorities. Despite these efforts, the disease continues to spread, with the current outbreak being one of the worst in recent years.

Article Summary:

• A second suspected dengue death has been reported in Bengaluru, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to six. • Bengaluru Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath has called for the government to declare dengue a state medical emergency, citing the rapid rise in cases and deaths. • Dr Manjunath believes that the government must take swift action to control mosquito breeding, which is exacerbated by unfinished road work and construction during the monsoon season. • He also emphasized the importance of controlling mosquito breeding to prevent the spread of diseases like chikungunya and zika. • The doctor urged school management to take measures to protect children from being infected, as there is no treatment for dengue if the infections get complicated. • The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief, Tushar Giri Nath, said that the cause of death is still suspected and that lab tests are being conducted to confirm the diagnosis. • The government has yet to declare dengue a state medical emergency, leaving the people of Bengaluru wondering what the future holds.