Dengue outbreak in DK & Udupi: Don’t neglect, take precautions!

Team Udayavani, Sep 24, 2022, 11:46 AM IST

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Mangaluru / Udupi: Dengue cases in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have considerably increased. Compare to the last two years, the number of cases reported in both districts are heading towards a new record.

As per the data of the health department, so far, 272 cases of dengue have been reported this year from Dakshina Kannada, of which 110 cases are from Mangaluru City Corporation limits. In Udupi, 456 persons have been diagnosed with dengue this year.

The number could be higher as many cases that are treated at private facilities go unreported, medical experts say.

Meanwhile, the health department is conducting door-to-door surveys for larval detection in the districts, including Mangaluru City Corporation limits. ASHA workers, malaria control workers, and health safety officials have been engaged to identify Aedes mosquito breeding sites. Residents are also being told to take precautions.

How does Dengue spread?

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease i.e. it is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The virus causes damage to the blood vessels.

The Aedes aegypti mosquitos usually bite during the daytime. They breed and multiply in clean stagnant water. As it rains intermittently, precautions should be taken not to let water accumulate in waste and other materials around the house, experts said.

Dengue Symptoms

According to the National Health Portal of India, a human being develops disease after 5 – 6 days of being bitten by an infective mosquito. It occurs in two forms: Classical Dengue fever also known as “break-bone” fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) which is life-threatening.

The most common symptom of dengue is fever with nausea, vomiting, rash, aches, and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain), etc.

What should you do?

If any of the symptoms are observed, people should consult doctors immediately.

Doctors also suggest drinking boiled, lukewarm water. Avoid drinking cold water when the symptoms persist. It is advisable to take head baths until the fever subsides as there is a possibility of headaches being worsened in some patients, doctors said.