Udupi: After recent rains, Udupi district sees worrying rise in dengue fever cases, indicating prompt action health authorities, The district health department has launched a comprehensive campaign larval survey With the aim of combating the outbreak.

Focusing on areas of the city where larval infestation is likely to be high, the department is carrying out anti-larva campaigns and mosquito eradication Programs across the district Since January this year, 47 cases of dengue have been reported in Udupi. Last year the total number of cases was 635.

Dr Prashant Bhatt, District Vector-Borne Disease Control Officer, Udupi, stressed the importance of maintaining clean surroundings and preventing water logging, especially as the rainy season approaches. “The larvae are commonly found in unused fresh water, air coolers and discarded tyres. It is important to quickly detect and eliminate these breeding sites,” said Dr Bhatt. Recalling the surge in dengue cases in Udupi city areas during October last year, efforts were made to control the mosquito population.

Medical students from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal collaborated with the Department of Community Medicine, Udupi District Vector Borne Disease Control Program (DVBDCP) and the District Health and Family Welfare Department to carry out the mosquito control initiative. Similar concerted efforts are underway to prevent the spread of dengue this year.

Over the past few years, dengue cases in Udupi have fluctuated, with 513 cases in 2022, 380 cases in 2021 and 139 cases in 2020. In particular, the presence of migrant worker housing units in the district requires extra vigilance as these are considered a high-risk group for dengue fever, the migrant labor officer said.