Udupi: Amid COVID-19, dengue cases too rising in district

Udupi: The number of COVID-19 cases in the district has been steadily rising. Along with that, an 89 per cent increase in dengue cases this year has been the cause of worry for the district’s Health Department.

The number of cases this year has doubled compared to the last two years.

From January 2020 to June 30 a total of 131 dengue cases were detected. In the same period in 2017, 67 cases were reported while in 2018 and 2019, 59 and 68 cases were reported respectively.

From January 2021 to the end of July, 281 cases were reported, with no deaths.

The highest number of dengue cases were reported in Udupi taluk. 154 cases have been reported, including 105 in government hospitals and 49 in private hospitals. Of these, 130 cases were reported from rural areas.

15 cases were reported in Kundapur taluk at government hospitals and 13 in private hospitals.

75 cases were reported in Karkala’s government hospital and 24 in private hospitals.

Dengue is mostly raging in rural areas than in urban parts of the district.

“Dengue cases increase every 2-3 years. The district had a rainy and sunny climate which helps in spreading dengue. Mosquito nets have already been distributed. Precautionary measures are being taken by the Department of Health. The public should ensure that water does not collect around their houses in tyres, sheaths and agro wastes in the garden,” said Dr Prashant Bhat, Controller for Communicable Disease, Udupi district.