Karnataka government declares dengue fever an 'epidemic': What it means
What's the story
Amid a spike in the number of cases of dengue across the state, the government of Karnataka on Tuesday notified the mosquito-borne disease as an epidemic.
The southern state has so far reported a total of 25,408 dengue cases with a death toll of 12 this year.
As of Monday, Bengaluru under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) topped the dengue fever chart in the state with 11,590 positive cases and three fatalities.
Official declaration
Dengue fever declared epidemic under state law
In an official statement on Tuesday, the Karnataka government announced that it has declared dengue, including the severe forms of the viral infection, an epidemic disease under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020.
Notably, this legislation grants the BBMP chief commissioner and deputy commissioners of other districts the authority to enter houses and other premises to inspect compliance with rules preventing mosquito breeding.
Minister's statement
Government working full time: Karnataka health minister
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated, "We are monitoring the situation... We have asked Asha workers and volunteers to go house to house."
"Government is working full time...the main thing is to control the spread of mosquito and also to stop deaths from happening," he added.
Ruling out the need for isolation wards, Rao said, "There is a need to spread awareness among the people as to at what stage of a fever one needs to visit a hospital."
Preventive measures
Government imposes fines to curb dengue spread
To curb the dengue outbreak, the government has introduced penalties for violating households, commercial establishments, and construction site owners, said the official notification.
Houseowners allowing mosquito breeding on their premises will be fined ₹400 in urban areas and ₹200 in rural areas.
Commercial establishments found violating guidelines will face fines of ₹1,000 in urban areas and ₹500 in rural areas.
Similarly, active construction sites, abandoned construction areas, and vacant sites will be fined ₹2,000 (urban) and ₹1,000 (rural) for non-compliance.
Health directives
Regular inspections and sanitation protocols implemented
The government has also directed authorities to carry out regular inspections, implement sanitation protocols, and offer medical aid in the affected areas.
Health workers have been instructed to cover water storage containers with lids to prevent mosquito breeding along with disposing of solid waste materials to prevent water accumulation.
Periodic inspections of all vacant sites, building premises, water tanks, parks, and playgrounds have been mandated as part of the government's measures.
Rising cases
Karnataka's dengue cases surpass previous year's total
The number of dengue cases in Karnataka this year has already exceeded the total number reported in 2023 by nearly 5,000.
To recall, in July, Bengaluru Rural MP Dr. CN Manjunath urged the state government to notify dengue as a medical emergency as the cases were on the rise.
Moreover, he warned that unchecked mosquito breeding could lead to more harmful diseases like chikungunya and Zika fever.