Bengaluru under grip of Type-2 dengue virus

BENGALURU: While Delhi is being haunted by Type 4 strain of Dengue disease as the numbers surge in the capital, Bengaluru seems to be afflicted by the Type-2 strain of the dengue virus.

“In the city we are witnessing more Type 2 strains while types 1, 3 and 4 are seen in other metro cities,” says Dr Shankar V, MD (Internal Medicine) Manipal Hospital Malleswaram and Apollo hospital Sheshadripuram who has treated more than thousands of dengue patients this season. So far, Bengaluru has reported more than 1150 positive cases according to the Department of Health and Family welfare.

The National Institute of Virology recently conducted a sample study which revealed that Type 2 strain of dengue is more prevalent. “The tests carried out at NIV are just 20% of the total number of dengue cases, but type two cases are more common in the city,” stresses Dr Bhaskar Shenoy, Consultant, Manipal Hospital.

“There are four sero types of the dengue virus, 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the dengue sero Type 4 and 2 are more common this year. Type two and Type four are very prevalent in the city which is quite similar to the strains that are being found in the country's capital now. This is because ecologically, the city is in the same zone,” explains Dr Kala Yadhav ML, a professor in Microbiology at The Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.

“Sadly stereotype two has high virulence.” Dr Bhaskar Shenoy said, “This type is supposed to be severe where the patients go into very severe manifestation within no time and platelet falls drastically. The blood pressure drops and there is fluid accumulation in the chest and abdomen.”

There is no specific treatment available for treating dengue, except for some paracetamol tablets and symptomatic treatment. As soon as the fever reduces, the platelets count on blood starts falling leading to serious health consequences.