“Eight deaths have occurred in the district owing to dengue in the past three months. Of the 767 suspected cases admitted to various hospitals between January and August this year, 144 have tested positive. All of them have been treated and discharged,” according to B.S. Anand Singh, Minister for Tourism and in charge of the district.

Mr. Singh was briefing mediapersons here on Sunday after reviewing the steps initiated to prevent the spread of dengue in the district, following reports that it had become rampant this year.

He said that he had instructed the officials of the Health Department, City Corporation, urban local bodies and taluk panchayats to work in tandem to prevent the dengue from spreading further. Priority should be given to not only cleanliness and hygiene but also creating awareness among the public about the importance of healthy environment around their houses.

The Minister said that he had asked the Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company to prepare a detailed report on installing an express line for providing uninterrupted power supply to the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), the only leading government hospital catering to the medical needs of people in Bellary and neighbouring districts, including a few in Andhra Pradesh, especially during the outbreak of viral fever like dengue.

Earlier, at the review meeting, Mr. Singh, while taking exception to the figures made available on the number of cases reported, treated and deaths, urged the officials to explain from the point of view of a common man.

Several councillors drew the attention of the Minister that shortage of staff had come in the way of taking precautionary measures, including fumigation, spraying and the like, and urged him to come out with an alternative arrangement in the form of a package for hiring the required personnel for the purpose.

Deputy Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas furnished details of spraying and other precautionary measures being taken up in the areas where the number of cases was reportedly high.

Manjunath Nayak, zilla panchayat chief exeutive officer; Vasant Seth, director at VIMS; D.L. Narayan, municipal Commissioner; Srikant Basur, District Health Officer; and Ajit Kulkarni, secretary of the Nursing Homes Association, attended the meeting.

Priority to cleanliness and hygiene, and creating awareness among people: Singh

‘Shortage of personnel coming in the way of taking precautionary measures