Chikungunya Cases More in Adjacent Districts

BANGALORE: The number of Chikungunya cases in Ramanagaram and Chikballapur districts seems to be increasing. Forty-five cases were reported from Ramanagaram and 33 from Chikballapur districts while only three cases were reported in the neighbouring Bangalore Urban district since January this year.

According to Health Department officials, no one has died of Chikungunya.

State Programme Manager, National Rural Health Mission, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services Dr B G Prakash Kumar told Express that the number of cases are increasing due to scanty rain and issues related to regular water supply.

“People affected are those who store water in open containers as this results in the breeding of Aedes Aegypti larvae. The Health Department will create awareness about this  in coordination with teachers from Education Department, anganwadi workers and Gram Panchayat officials,” he said. Prakash said source reduction is the focus of the programme.

Ramanagaram District Health Office Dr R Raghunath said all the health staff have been asked to increase the surveillance activity in Kanakapura and Channapatna taluks and draw the blood samples of five suspects randomly from affected places. “When tests come positive, the entire village is screened and the source reduction activity is done continuously,” he added.

In Chikballapur district, the health officials attribute the increase in the number of Chikungunya to  dairy farming.

“Water is supplied to the district once in a week and people store it as a priority. The water in cowsheds is a cause for worry as it remains open and gives a chance larvae to thrive,” he said.

number count According to the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, the State has recorded 208 cases of Chikungunya since January this year. The number of cases detected in some districts are Ramanagaram-45, Chikballapur-33, Belgaum-32, Bijapur-18, Bellary-12 and Chamarajnagar- 12.