Bengaluru

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that they are strictly monitoring and taking proper steps on how to reduce the proliferation of dengue mosquitoes amid the rise of dengue cases in the state on Monday.

The state of Karnakata has been witnessing a rise in dengue cases, with over 7,000 positive cases recorded so far this year, according to a report released by the Commission of Health and Family Welfare Services on Saturday.

"We are keeping a strict visual on that...monitoring it. The important part of this is source reduction. How we can reduce the proliferation of the dengue mosquito. And especially with the rainfall in a lot of places, that is also contributing to water stagnation," Rao said.

According to the report, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area alone witnessed a total of 1908 positive cases, with the remaining 5098 cases reported from the 31 districts across the southern state.

Rao said that spraying activity is also going on in the BBMP areas and they are carefully monitoring schools and contribution areas. They have also set up a technical committee and will be deciding on the future protocols today.

"...in BBMP areas already spraying activity is going. Especially in construction areas and schools, we have been monitoring carefully. Last night we had a discussion with the technical committee, so today we will be deciding on the future protocols and will let you know sometime in the afternoon what will be the future protocols," Rao said.

Speaking of regulations on testing, Rao stated that they have put regulations in place in terms of testing to control the overflow of patients in private hospitals and also mentioned that treatments are also available in government hospitals.

"We have a regulation in terms of testing. We have fixed the amount for dengue testing. If we receive any complaints regarding this, we will be taking very strict actions against those hospitals. Treatments are also available in government hospitals for anyone who requires IV fluids, or platelets; all are available in government hospitals. Hopefully, we can bring the numbers down," he said.

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On Saturday, the BBMP area recorded 115 more positive cases, with 60 more positive cases recorded from the rest of the state. Till now, six people have lost their lives due to dengue this year in Karnataka.