After a slight lull in its wake over the four years that it has been haunting us, Dengue Fever seems to have returned with a vengeance considering the number of cases that we doctors have been seeing of late in our daily practice. I am getting about two to three cases a week and my other doctor friends too agree that the scenario in their clinics and hospitals is no different.

It is a viral disease which is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is now found in abundance in almost all our cities, thanks to our complacence in eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

Over the past twenty years it has been considered by WHO to be the most widespread viral infection transmitted by insects even surpassing the more well - known malaria. Although there is no specific curative treatment it is usually a self limiting disease that resolves by itself like most other viral fevers without us even getting a definitive diagnosis. But quite often it can progress into a very dangerous hemorrhagic form which is capable of causing much morbidity and even mortality to an extant of forty five percent despite the best treatment at the most well - equipped centres.

This phase is heralded by bleeding from the gums and by the appearance of hemorrhagic patches under the skin and should this happen it needs immediate hospitalisation and treatment which may require transfusion of a blood component called platelets. Despite its presence along with the other two mosquito - borne diseases, Malaria and Chikungunya. Our City Corporation authorities do not seem to be doing much to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes beyond distributing pamphlets aimed at educating citizens on their prevention.

It is said that academic discussions are futile during a war and likewise these theoretical measures will not achieve anything without concrete measures to contain the problem. We were told a couple of years ago that our Corporation had acquired fumigation machines to destroy mosquitoes but we do not see them in use anywhere. All the areas with stagnant water which is the breeding medium for mosquitoes not only continue to remain intact but are also increasing, thanks to the widespread construction activity that goes on all through the year. Garbage that chokes our storm water and waste water drains creating stagnant cesspools continues to remain uncleared.

Our elected Corporators do not take stock of these hazards as they are always busy handling more profitable preoccupations. People too lack civic responsibility and are unmindful of the need to keep their surroundings clean and wake up only when they are directly affected. Every day doctors are encountering and treating cases of dengue and a few lives have also been lost in the city and the public remains ignorant about the real gravity of the situation. It is time we urged our elected representatives to take concrete measures to contain this menace without further delay which can only worsen the situation.

Hari in a hurry?
After having been made to bear the humiliation of being veiled in disgrace for nearly six years, the bust of our former SP and Police martyr Harikrishna was formally unveiled, thankfully on this Independence Day.

Although I had been seeing it ever since it was installed there, like most of us I was able to see its actual appearance for the first time only after this long delayed ceremony. While I do not know how many Mysoreans had known or at least seen the man in life and blood, I was aghast to find that the bust that has been installed does not bear even the slightest resemblance to him.

I can say this because he happened to be my close personal friend who used to spend much time with me all through his last posting as we used to share our place of work in what was then called “Veerappan Territory”. Like me, he too had great love for books and he had a fabulous personal collection in his home library. He was a great “conversationist” with a phenomenal knowledge about many subjects especially weapon systems and aeronautics.

Hari's figure seems to have certainly been sculpted in a great hurry without taking into consideration the appearance of his face from all angles. To me it actually looks more like a statue of our former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs with a Police Officer’s cap! But perceptions can differ and irrespective of whether it is a good job or a bad one, I am happy that my friend who was a real “officer and a gentleman” has got a symbolic place of honour along with all our other martyrs from the Police force which will certainly help us all to remember them for all time to come.