Tackle dengue menace effectively

Concern is being expressed by medical experts as dengue cases have recorded a gradual uptick in Karnataka. Since January a little over seven thousand cases have been reported across the state.

The state has also reported six deaths from among those who got infected. Arrival of monsoon has quickened the spread of the virus.

Bengaluru tops the list with 1,908 cases being recorded since January this year. Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Haveri and Chitradurga districts follow the city in number of cases. The debilitating affliction that it is, the government hospitals must accord priority in testing the cases and administering care.

There is merit in Leader of the Opposition Mr. R. Ashok’s plea to make the test free in government institutions as spread of the ailment as a full blown epidemic will only cause extraordinary burden on the state exchequer.

With monsoon having completed two months of precipitations, stagnant sewage turn into hatcheries of the mosquitoes. This being the prime causative factor, the municipal bodies should wake up to see that drains do not accumulate sewage.

Fogging the streets and bushes should also be undertaken. Though no vaccines have so far been developed to control the infection, two vaccines, namely Dengvaxia and Odenga formulated in the United States have shown promising results in Thailand.

These are reportedly under trial at the Serum Institute in India. The Union Ministry of Health should ensure their availability following approval by the regulatory authorities.