Mysuru: The reports of widespread vector-borne diseases is sending shivers in city. Private and Government hospitals are full with patients with viral fever. While people having severe fever are being admitted as ‘in patients’, those having mild fever, headache and feverish symptoms are being treated as ‘out patients’ as hospitals do not have adequate beds to accommodate them.

According to doctors, this year, there is an increase in viral cases when compared to last year. “Usually, we get many patients with fever by the end of May till July. This year, however, the number of cases has gone up,” doctors from Brindavan Hospital and Shanthaveri Gopalagowda Hospitals said.

When asked about dengue cases, they said that all the cases were of viral fever and dengue statistics will be released only by the District Health Officer.

Brindavan Hospital has around 18 ‘in patients’ with viral fever, Vidyaranya Hospital has about two, Shanthaveri Gopalagowda Hospital has over 30 patients. There are over 70 patients at K.R. Hospital and over 100 viral fever patients at JSS Hospital.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Dr. B.H. Manjunath of Brindavan Hospital and Dr. Santhrupth of Shanthaveri Hospital said that the cases of viral fever have increased and they were finding it difficult to accommodate patients. “We conduct tests for dengue and malaria at our laboratories and report to the District Health Department if there are any suspect dengue/malaria cases. We are not authorised to declare dengue,” they said.

The doctors said that though viral fever cases have increased, blood platelets in the patients have not come down. “Usually, when there is a dengue, platelets come down drastically and we have observed this last year. This time, however, we have not observed such a thing,” they said.

District Health Officer Dr. B. Basavaraju said that one confirmed case of Dengue has been reported from Kamakshi Hospital where a girl from Paduvarahalli has been admitted. “Private hospitals cannot confirm dengue as a few of them are giving false information to patients’ relatives. Unless it is confirmed by the District Health Department, they should not issue such statements,” he said.

“Blood samples for suspect dengue cases must be tested as per Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) procedure. Private labs resort to Rapid Card Test that is not reliable,” he said and added that a meeting has been called with private hospitals today at 3 pm at District Health office in Nazarbad to take stock of dengue viral fever cases.