Battling the Dengue Surge: Unveiling the Alarming Numbers in Bengaluru

July 21, 2023 Bibo Health

Bengaluru is currently dealing with an unprecedented increase in dengue cases in the middle of July. An alarming 178 cases have been reported in just 11 days, providing a somber picture of the city's fight against the fatal disease. With less than 20 cases per day during April and May, the situation was manageable. However, it has since deteriorated into a daily onslaught of almost 100 cases. Medical authorities are working assiduously to contain the spread since the situation is critical. In this blog, we'll look at the most recent data, explore some interesting facts, and acquire professional viewpoints on the peculiar symptoms and difficulties brought on by this recent upsurge.

The Rising Numbers:

By the end of May, the numbers began to gradually rise, and since June, they have been steadily rising. There is a huge influx of patients seeking treatment for dengue symptoms at hospitals in Bengaluru. Thankfully, even while admissions have increased overall, the proportion of severe cases is still rather low. Officials from the BBMP report that 3,565 people have so far shown signs of dengue. Unsettlingly, Karnataka already has over 1000 confirmed dengue cases, with Bengaluru alone reporting 919 cases as of July 15th, 2023.

Rare Facts about Dengue:

Dengue fever is not a new threat to humanity, but certain rare facts about the disease might surprise you:

Unusual Fever Duration: Paediatrician Dr. Poornima R. N. at St. John's Hospital has noticed an odd pattern in the most recent outbreak. Typically, it takes three to four days for particular symptoms like low blood pressure and a low platelet count to appear during dengue fever. This time, though, cases with fevers that last for seven to 10 days or longer are being documented. Patients may occasionally suffer an odd pattern of fever that decreases momentarily before returning. Particularly children are showing signs of extreme weariness, raising concerns among both parents and medical professionals.
Silent Transmission: The fact that dengue can spread silently is among its most puzzling characteristics. It can be difficult to identify infected persons and stop the spread of the disease because they may not exhibit any symptoms or only exhibit minor symptoms. Inadvertent transmission of the virus to mosquitoes by asymptomatic individuals makes prevention efforts more difficult.
Four Serotypes, Four Challenges: The four different serotypes of the dengue virus (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4) are what cause dengue disease. As each serotype can independently cause the disease, a person may have dengue more than once throughout their lifetime. However, repeated infections with various serotypes raise the danger of developing severe dengue, which can result in potentially fatal consequences.
Association with Climate Change: The increase in dengue cases around the world has been attributed to both climate change and urbanization. The Aedes mosquito, which spreads the virus, prefers warm, humid settings. The range of Aedes mosquitoes extends as these conditions become more common owing to climate change, raising the risk of dengue transmission.

It is essential for residents to be aware of the risks and take precautions to protect themselves and their communities as Bengaluru struggles with the alarming rise in dengue incidence. Simple measures like removing mosquito breeding grounds, utilizing insect repellents, and donning protective clothes will greatly reduce the spread of the virus.

We can all work together to defeat this outbreak and establish a safer, healthier environment if we remain informed, on the lookout, and proactive. Let's band together to fight dengue and collaborate to stop its further spread.

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