Suspected dengue death in Dakshina Kannada, 10 positive cases

MANGALURU: With the onset of monsoon, dengue has resurfaced in the Dakshina Kannada district with one suspected death being reported on Saturday and 10 other persons testing positive for the disease. As many as 10 positive cases have been reported of the 29 samples collected from Sullia taluk by the district surveillance unit. District surveillance officer Dr Rajesh BV told TOI that a 48-year-old woman from Kasaragod-Puttur border area, who was admitted to a hospital here, died on Saturday. "We are yet to get the serum sample. We will test it for dengue antibodies. We will be able to confirm this within a couple of days after testing," he added. Also, Mohanan, 28, a plumber from Kadagam, Mulleria, Kasaragod, died allegedly of dengue in a private hospital here on Sunday. He had running fever for the past three days and was treated at a private hospital there for two days. He was admitted to a hospital here on Saturday. The district recorded two deaths and 85 cases between January and July last year. In 2013, during the same period, the number of cases had reached the 150 mark. In 2014, the district recorded the highest number of dengue cases in April (27), followed by 18 in May. This is the period when the two deaths occurred. Health department officials say domestic and peri-domestic breeding is rampant, especially in rural areas and unless individuals take responsibility for source reduction, the control of this mosquito borne disease is difficult. A decade ago, awareness programmes after two deaths and 100 dengue positive cases saw a drastic reduction of cases: 11 cases and one death between 2004 and 2006. The number rose to 422 cases and two deaths in 2009, after which dengue positive cases have always been above the 100 level mark every year. -TOI