Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah raps officials for inept handling of dengue surge

BENGALURU: CM Siddaramaiah on Monday took senior state govt officials to task, holding them accountable for the recent rise in dengue cases across the state, and sought swift action to combat the outbreak, even as health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao ruled out declaring the surge a "medical emergency".
Addressing a review meeting involving deputy commissioners (DCs), chief executive officers (CEOs) and district in-charge secretaries, the CM was scathing in his comments, saying: "If deputy commissioners feel they are maharajas, development and progress won't be possible."
Karnataka on Monday reported 197 new cases of dengue, along with one death in Mysuru.These fresh cases have taken the state's dengue tally to 7,362 and the total number of deaths to seven since Jan 2024.
'No declaring medical emergency'
The state govt conducted 892 tests over the last one day. According to a statement from the health and family welfare department, out of the 197 new dengue cases, 133 patients are in the 18-plus age group, while 64 are under 18.
In Bengaluru, 99 new dengue cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Since this Jan, the city has reported 2,118 cases and one death.
The health minister, however, ruled out declaring a medical emergency. His observation came after cardiologist and Bangalore Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath on Saturday urged the state govt to declare dengue a "medical emergency", seeking measures to combat the virus on the lines of the fight against Covid-19.
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) had met on Sunday in the backdrop of this advice. The health minister said: "The situation is not such that it needs to be declared a medical emergency, because all the facilities are in place, such as hospital beds and medicines. The TAC believes the situation isn't grave."
Rao further said dengue infection doesn't spread from person to person, unlike Covid. Even then, hospitals have been advised to keep beds ready. He promised that govt hospitals were well-equipped to provide enough intravenous fluids and platelets to dengue patients.
Ruling out the need for isolation wards, the health minister added: "There is need to spread awareness among the people as to at what stage of a fever one needs to visit a hospital."
Reacting to reports that some private hospitals were still charging more for dengue testing, despite the govt capping the rates, he said: "If anyone complains, we will take action. I will also ask our officials to check."