While there is much panic over the escalation of dengue cases in Karnataka, information from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) under the Directorate General of Health Services of the Union Government indicates that Karnataka has seen more alarming surges.
In 2023, Karnataka had a record of 19,300 dengue cases which was its highest in ten years. In 2019, seventeen patients died from this vector-borne disease which recorded the most deaths while eleven people died last year. On other occasions there were no more than nine deaths from dengue starting from 2014. As at now, around eight thousand two hundred and twenty one cases have been reported this year with seven dead.
Why Karnataka need not declare a medical emergency for dengue
“Karnataka follows a pattern of spiking every alternate year,” noted Dr Mohammed Sharief State Programme Officer NVBDCP. “Transmission of Dengue is governed by various ecological factors. Dengue also happens due to uncontrolled development activities, improper water storage practices and migration patterns as well as poor solid waste management practices. The mosquitoes that carry dengue fever lay their eggs in fresh water and bite during daylight hours,” he said.
“While some are urging that this year’s outbreak be declared a medical emergency by Karnataka, there is really nothing to worry about given that it is usually a seasonal occurrence at this time of the year for dengue outbreaks. This surge often takes over two months to subside; we expect to see dwindling numbers by mid-August”, said Dr Mohammed Sharief.
The State COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which met on July 7 received advice on communicable diseases such as Dengue whose current increase has caused anxiety among many who feel it should be treated as an emergency situation.
A TAC member remarked: “We concluded that the rise in the number of dengue cases is under control, and there are not many admissions in hospitals. The infrastructure is available, testing kits are enough and drugs for treatment of the disease are accessible so we do not need to declare a medical emergency.”
Do not panic
The Hindu contacted some experts who all agreed.
“Earlier outbreaks in Karnataka had seen dengue patients overwhelming hospitals and beds becoming scarce. The situation at present is not that bad,” said Susanta Kumar Ghosh, former scientist and head of field station of ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research in Bengaluru.
Similar to COVID-19, Dr. Ghosh opined that dengue surveillance should be done. “Both these diseases have over 80% asymptomatic cases epidemiologically. Like tracing contacts on COVID, once someone tests positive for dengue they should initiate combing operations to reduce sources to mosquito breeding around their homes,” he said.
Epidemiologist Giridhar R. Babu who was part of the TAC during the pandemic stated that no public health emergency declaration is necessary. “The emergency is to declare a war against misinformation, and to stop medicalising a social problem,” he said on his social media page.
Improved reporting of cases is not a problem, not reporting is
“The current surge in cases could also be attributed to cyclical trends, improved diagnostics as well as enhanced surveillance which explains why there seems to be an increasing trend despite hospitalization data showing otherwise”. He continued: “It has become fashionable to blame states like Karnataka or Kerala for accurately reporting high numbers due to better surveillance systems.”
Therefore, He added that the main problem is with States that fail to provide accurate data meaning that there would be a greater threat posed to vulnerable people in these areas. He however stressed that it is time to combat dengue through evidence-based management and avoid misinformation.
