Around eight people have died and over 200 are suffering from dengue fever as the BBMP has failed to keep mosquitoes under control in the city. What is worse is that the BBMP is not willing to face facts and may even be fudging the figures of positive cases and deaths. It has already expressed annoyance with private hospitals for declaring that deaths are due to dengue.
Aftab Alam, a resident of Nagawara was admitted to a hospital for treatment. His report states clearly that he was suffering from dengue fever and had a low platelet count. He did not respond to the treatment and died on Saturday. The BBMP allegedly persuaded the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Hospital authorities to issue another report stating that his was not a dengue death.
This is the attitude of the BBMP towards a disease that can turn fatal if correct and timely medication is not given. Regular spraying and fogging is one way to keep mosquitoes in control. Neither this nor other measures were discussed in the BBMP council with the ruling BJP ensuring that the issue was not discussed in the council.
Hamsa Kumari, resident of Gowdanapalya in Padmanabhanagar, Vishnu and Bebijan residents of Vijinapura, Milan, resident of Frazer Town, Shobha Rajkumar, resident of Jeevanbhimanagar, Shruthi and Trupti, residents of Anekal, and Manjula, resident of Herohalli have died, allegedly of dengue. But the BBMP has so far confirmed only the death of Vishnu as due to dengue and has resorted to despicable sleight-of-hand in case of the other deaths.
Dengue causes the platelet count to be depleted and this causes other vital organs to fail. The BBMP claims the deaths are due to multiple-organ failure, refusing to acknowledge what caused the organs to fail. All the BBMP has done so far is form teams to create awareness among the public. Even these teams are not given adequate facilities to act effectively. It is high time the BBMP responded to a public health problem in a more proactive and effective way.