Mysuru district has witnessed a significant increase in dengue cases over the past six months, reporting a total of 358 cases from January to mid-June. The monthly breakdown is as follows: 39 cases in January, 80 in February, 55 in March, 78 in April, 89 in May, and 17 up to mid-June. This uptick is alarming compared to the 789 cases in 2022 and 702 cases in 2023. Contributing factors include climate change, rising temperatures, and increased rainfall.
District health authorities have collected blood samples from 1,779 suspected dengue cases in taluk centers and 786 samples from Mysuru City, with the city accounting for the highest number at 212 cases.
Doctors in Mysuru report a notable drop in blood platelet counts among dengue patients and warn that early monsoon rains can lead to water stagnation in various areas, providing breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the dengue virus vector.
District health officer Dr. PC Kumaraswamy stated that measures have been initiated to remove mosquito larvae and that treatment protocols are promptly applied following a positive dengue diagnosis. He advises individuals experiencing high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash to get their blood samples tested at the nearest public health centers.
The district health department is collaborating with other departments to control the spread of dengue and reduce related morbidity and mortality. Awareness campaigns and regular checks of clogged gutters by civic bodies and panchayats are also being conducted.