Bengaluru has reported 2,194 positive dengue cases this year till date. As per Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike BBMP (BBMP), the city has reported the highest dengue case count in Karnataka. Across the state, 4,827 positive dengue cases have been reported. The state government has decided to cap test rates to encourage testing across Karnataka. Read on to know more.
More Than 2,000 Positive Dengue Cases Reported In Bengaluru
Dengue cases in Bengaluru have crossed the 2,000 mark! With 2,194 positive cases, Bengaluru has reported the highest dengue case count in Karnataka. As per a report in The Indian Express, Mahadevapura zone has recorded 610 cases, followed by 578 cases in the East zone, and 325 in the South zone. With only 14 cases, the Dasarahalli zone has recorded the lowest number of dengue cases in the city.
Furthermore, Bengaluru also has the highest number of suspected dengue cases. As per BBMP’s data, there are about 1,05,283 suspected dengue cases in Bengaluru. The data further reveals that health officials have tested 9,152 residents in the city since January 1. Karnataka, overall, has reported 4,827 dengue cases. The state has reported six dengue-related deaths, including one in Bengaluru.
Karnataka Decides To Cap Dengue Tests Price
To encourage testing amongst citizens, the Karnataka government has decided to cap the dengue testing rates at private hospitals and private labs across the state. Seeing the rising number of dengue cases, the state’s health ministry took this step under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
As per The Indian Express report, the cost of the dengue ELISA NS1 and IgM tests are now fixed at ₹300. The price of screening tests, including Rapid card tests for NS1, IgM and IgG is ₹200.
While talking to The Indian Express, Karnataka’s Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that since testing has increased by 42% in the state this year, more dengue cases are being reported. He further mentioned that more tests and early detection can help prevent complications and fatalities.
Such a high number of dengue cases in Bengaluru and across Karnataka are quite concerning. We hope that the state government and the authorities are able to come up with a plan to tackle this situation. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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