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Haveri, Karnataka – In a tragic turn of events, Haveri district in Karnataka witnessed two fatal cases of infectious diseases on Monday. Premkumar, a 13-year-old resident of Chalageri village near Ranebennur town, succumbed to dengue after battling fever for a week. In a separate incident, 72-year-old Umesh from Araleshwara village in Hangal taluk lost his life to rat-bite fever following a 15-day struggle with fever.
Premkumar’s death has brought to light the increasing threat of dengue in the region. Similarly, Umesh’s demise underscores the risk posed by rat-bite fever, a less common but equally dangerous disease. Umesh was treated at multiple hospitals in Haveri and Mangaluru, and it was at a private hospital in Mangaluru where he was diagnosed with rat-bite fever before succumbing to the illness.
In response to the rising incidence of dengue across the state, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), Priyank Kharge, has issued a directive to all gram panchayats to adopt immediate precautionary measures. The measures focus on managing dengue cases through rigorous sanitation protocols, particularly emphasizing the regular cleaning of water storage tanks, open reservoirs, and public toilets on a weekly basis.
Minister Kharge also highlighted the importance of maintaining operational control valves in water supply systems to prevent water stagnation, a key factor in controlling mosquito breeding. Furthermore, gram panchayats are encouraged to form “Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees” to actively promote and implement dengue control initiatives.
The urgency of these measures is amplified by the recent public outrage following the death of 5-year-old Chirayu Hosamani at Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) on Sunday. Chirayu’s parents alleged that their child was not admitted to the hospital in time, resulting in his suffering and eventual death outside the hospital premises.
The dengue crisis in Karnataka has reached alarming levels, with over 7,000 active cases reported and six to seven deaths attributed to the disease so far. On average, the state is witnessing 600 to 700 new dengue cases daily, underscoring the critical need for effective and immediate public health interventions.
As the state grapples with these infectious diseases, the health authorities and local governance bodies must work collaboratively to enhance public health infrastructure, awareness, and preventive measures to safeguard the lives of residents and mitigate the spread of these diseases.
