Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu claimed on Friday that all was well on the health front with his department in full control of the spread of epidemics like H1N1, dengue and chikungunya. But statistics provided by his own ministry tell a different tale.
The data released by the directorate of health and family welfare have put the deaths in the state due to H1N1 till August 26 this year at 95, as against 132 during the whole of last year. That most of the year till now was summer season when the H1N1 virus was believed to be dormant, can only mean the worst is yet to unravel. Thirty-two people have died due to the virus in Bangalore this year till date, as against 79 last year.
The number of confirmed chikungunya and dengue cases in the state till date this year has been put at 927 and 1,294 respectively. The corresponding numbers for Bangalore city are 143 and 436, respectively.
Attributing the spread of epidemics to monsoon rains, Sriramulu admitted that mosquitoes were breeding, which in turn had led to rise in H1N1, dengue and chikungunya cases not only in Bangalore, but all over the state. “We are taking all types of precautionary measures,” he said. “Epidemics are under control. People need not panic,” Sriramulu said.
When queried about the fact that the statistics presented a disturbing picture, Sriramulu said, “H1N1 is all over the country. But compared to other states like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, our situation is better.When H1N1 hit the state last year, we had no medicines. Now we have adequate stock of medicines to cure H1N1 patients. We have a stock of 3.25 lakh tamiflu tablets. People can get tablets at government hospitals when fever symptoms begin,” he said.
“Till recently, we were conducted screening at the Bengaluru International Airport and other main bus stations for H1N1, but now the government of India itself has issued a circular stating there was no need for screening at airports and other prominent bus and railways stations. That’s why we stopped the screening,” Sriramulu said.
For dengue fever, he said that private nursing homes had been instructed to conduct Elisa test and later send the samples to the National Institute of Virology, NIMHANS and Victoria hospitals. “Only then, can they start the treatment.
Earlier there was shortage of blood platelets. Now, the situation has improved. There is no need to panic,” the health minister said.
Buck stops here
According to Sriramulu, if any death occurs due to epidemic diseases by negligence of health department officers, they will be held responsible and strict action will be taken against them. “Health officers should monitor the situation on a daily basis. Because of heavy rains and waterlogging,breeding of mosquitoes has increased. However, we are taking precautionary measures like fogging. We are insistingthat people drink boiled water,” he said.
He further said that there was no dearth of funds and that the state had taken measures on a war footing to control epidemic diseases.
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