Bengaluru: With 2,610 cases recorded since January 2016, Karnataka has the third highest number of dengue cases in the country. Kerala tops with 4,060 cases, followed by Odisha with 2,683.

An assessment by the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, a government of India initiative, says Delhi (15,867 cases and 60 deaths in 2015) and Punjab (14,128 cases) have shown tremendous progress in their mosquito-control programmes this year.

Delhi reported 90 positive cases this year and Pun jab only 18 as of July 28, 2016.

"Rigorous house-to-house checks on mosquito breeding and larvicide (killing of larvae) taken up by local civic agencies have yielded results," an officer said.

In contrast, the Bengalu ru civic agency has been in a denial mode. Dr Lokesh MN, chief medical officer, public health, BBMP, says the city has seen only sporadic cases.

"The Palike workforce is doing its best through larvae surveys, larvae elimination, spraying and fogging. Bengaluru has reported 417 positive cases, but the actual numbers are more than 600," the BBMP officer says.

In 2015, the total number of dengue cases across the country surged to 99,913, and the number of deaths stood at 220. In 2014, the number of cases reported was 40,571, with 137 deaths. In spite of the magnitude of the problem, the surveillance, report ing and diagnosis of dengue have yet to gain adequate momentum in India, officials said.

"In Delhi, a rigorous house-tohouse survey helped bring down the cases this year. However, Karnataka must beef up its surveillance," a senior health officer said.

Private hospitals and nursing homes have also seen the number of cases increasing by the day . Dr BR Ambedkar Medical College in east Bengaluru has three cases in its ICU. "On an average, 4-5 of the 20 cases of viral infections turn out to be dengue. The number of cases has not come down. It requires people's cooperation too, apart from efforts by civic authorities. Reckless dumping of garbage containing used bottles and coconut shells must be stopped, as they are potential mosquito-breeding spots in our own neighbourhood," says Dr SM Prasad, professor of paediatrics, Dr BR Ambedkar Medical College.

Dr Ravikumar K, regional direc tor, NVBDCP, said fogging has been termed useless and almost stopped in districts across Karnataka. "Instead, the districts have been supplied with indoor space spray Pyrethurm, a pesticide to be mixed with kerosene and sprayed even indoors for mosquito control.That has been found effective. In many cases, breeding centres are within houses.It's an indoor mosquito, and hence outdoor fogging is not so effective," he said.