Bengaluru, Karnataka government has said that all tests and treatments will be provided free of charge for dengue cases at all health care centers of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Among the instructions given by the department in a circular to district administrations are setting up of a 'dengue war room' at both the state and district levels, constitution of a task force at the district level, identification of hotspots, the activation of fever clinics and the distribution of mosquito repellents. for strict compliance.
"Considering the current dengue situation in the state during the current monsoon season, it is crucial that the measures implemented with respect to treatment and management of dengue cases are result-oriented. In this regard, instructions are being issued to its strict compliance," the circular says. read.
According to data from the health department, Karnataka has recorded 7,840 positive dengue cases as of Wednesday since January this year, with areas under the city's civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), being the largest with 2,292.
On Wednesday, the state reported 293 new cases of dengue infection, including 118 in BBMP areas.
"All testing and treatment facilities (including ICU if required) will be provided free of cost for all cases of dengue fever (irrespective of BPL/APL status of the patient) in all healthcare facilities under the Department of Health and Family Welfare," the circular said.
Noting that all houses should be covered for source reduction once in a fortnight through ASHA and health personnel, he said health personnel can be supplemented with volunteers, especially in urban areas.
The volunteers will be hired by urban local bodies at the rate of Rs 200 per day.
He also said that the source reduction campaign with appropriate IEC (Information, Education and Communication) on prevention and treatment of dengue would be carried out with active participation of elected representatives, citizens and other allied departments on the morning of each Friday (or any other day). day as decided by the District Task Force) in which the public would be motivated to carry out a cleaning campaign inside and outside their homes, as well as to empty and scrub clean water storage containers.
District administrations and the BBMP must identify hotspots (an area with a radius of about 100 meters within which two or more positive cases of dengue have been reported).
The health department said efforts should be to reduce the number of hotspots by intensifying source reduction activity in such areas, through mass larvicide spraying in outdoor areas where water stagnation spots are noted. and indoor misting.
Ensure activation of fever clinics in those areas, he said, and asked the authorities to ensure distribution of mosquito repellent neem oil or suitable alternatives in such areas for external application on exposed parts of the body such as hands, legs, neck, face, etc. to poor households. .
He also called for monitoring positive cases daily for 14 days from the onset of symptoms and educating them on early warning signs of mild dengue disease progressing to moderate/severe stage.
A minimum of five beds will be reserved in taluk hospitals and 8 to 10 beds in district hospitals for dengue cases, she said.
However, these beds could be used for other patients in case they are not fully utilized for dengue patients.
Test kits, essential medicines and intravenous fluids for the treatment and management of dengue cases should be kept well stocked in all health care facilities, the circular said, adding that platelets, fresh frozen plasma should be ensured and other blood components are available in sufficient quantity in both public and private blood banks.
Among the instructions given by the department in a circular to district administrations are setting up of a 'dengue war room' at both the state and district levels, constitution of a task force at the district level, identification of hotspots, the activation of fever clinics and the distribution of mosquito repellents. for strict compliance.
"Considering the current dengue situation in the state during the current monsoon season, it is crucial that the measures implemented with respect to treatment and management of dengue cases are result-oriented. In this regard, instructions are being issued to its strict compliance," the circular says. read.
According to data from the health department, Karnataka has recorded 7,840 positive dengue cases as of Wednesday since January this year, with areas under the city's civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), being the largest with 2,292.
On Wednesday, the state reported 293 new cases of dengue infection, including 118 in BBMP areas.
"All testing and treatment facilities (including ICU if required) will be provided free of cost for all cases of dengue fever (irrespective of BPL/APL status of the patient) in all healthcare facilities under the Department of Health and Family Welfare," the circular said.
Noting that all houses should be covered for source reduction once in a fortnight through ASHA and health personnel, he said health personnel can be supplemented with volunteers, especially in urban areas.
The volunteers will be hired by urban local bodies at the rate of Rs 200 per day.
He also said that the source reduction campaign with appropriate IEC (Information, Education and Communication) on prevention and treatment of dengue would be carried out with active participation of elected representatives, citizens and other allied departments on the morning of each Friday (or any other day). day as decided by the District Task Force) in which the public would be motivated to carry out a cleaning campaign inside and outside their homes, as well as to empty and scrub clean water storage containers.
District administrations and the BBMP must identify hotspots (an area with a radius of about 100 meters within which two or more positive cases of dengue have been reported).
The health department said efforts should be to reduce the number of hotspots by intensifying source reduction activity in such areas, through mass larvicide spraying in outdoor areas where water stagnation spots are noted. and indoor misting.
Ensure activation of fever clinics in those areas, he said, and asked the authorities to ensure distribution of mosquito repellent neem oil or suitable alternatives in such areas for external application on exposed parts of the body such as hands, legs, neck, face, etc. to poor households. .
He also called for monitoring positive cases daily for 14 days from the onset of symptoms and educating them on early warning signs of mild dengue disease progressing to moderate/severe stage.
A minimum of five beds will be reserved in taluk hospitals and 8 to 10 beds in district hospitals for dengue cases, she said.
However, these beds could be used for other patients in case they are not fully utilized for dengue patients.
Test kits, essential medicines and intravenous fluids for the treatment and management of dengue cases should be kept well stocked in all health care facilities, the circular said, adding that platelets, fresh frozen plasma should be ensured and other blood components are available in sufficient quantity in both public and private blood banks.
