Bengaluru reports over 3,200 dengue cases in 2 months, health minister calls for intensified efforts

Over 3,200 dengue cases were reported in Bengaluru in July-August, prompting the state's health minister to call for intensified efforts to control the spread.

Published on: Sep 8, 2023, 16:46:01 IST

By Yamini C S

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In a shocking reveal, Karnataka minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, on Thursday said Bengaluru city has reported more than 3,200 dengue cases in the span of two months. As many as 1,649 and 1,590 dengue cases were observed in July and August, respectively, whereas 416 cases have been reported in September so far, he said.

As many as 1,649 and 1,590 dengue cases were observed in July and August, respectively. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

The minister held a meeting with officials from Bengaluru's civic and administrative body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), to discuss the rise of dengue cases in the city. BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath and other highly placed officers were present at the meeting, where the minister gave instructions to curb the spread of the viral disease.

His instructions include increased testing for dengue in BBMP's six “high tech” labs, as well as vector control methods such as praying of pesticides in the city to get rid of mosquitoes which carry the virus.

ALSO READ | Dengue cases surge across Karnataka, authorities on alert

The alarming and sudden spike in dengue cases is mainly because of stagnant rain water, Rao told news agency PTI. “I have given directions to the officials to work more to control dengue. This month, the cases have risen. We have taken it seriously and now we have given instruction to take measures,” he said.

ALSO READ | Alarming rise in Dengue-like illness in Bengaluru; Here's how to prevent it

The health minister also said salaries of healthcare workers including Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANM) will be hiked from ₹12,000 per month to ₹18,000.

“They (BBMP) say that these ANM and main health workers are not coming forward because of low pay. We have decided to give an additional ₹6,000 from our department. Now they will start the process of recruiting them,” the minister said.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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