Kozhikode: Despite the dry day observation and preventive measures to check the spread of dengue, the disease has been on the rise in the district.
The deaths have been reported within a short span of three months since May. As on Tuesday, nine had died, including six suspected to be because of dengue. The total number of cases has touched 985 with 259 confirmed cases.
During the corresponding period last year 500 plus cases were recorded but there were no deaths. Of the deaths, two each were reported from Kozhikode Corporation limits, Thiruvambady, Mukkam and the rest from Feroke and Koduvally.
To arrest the rising trend, the district administration has roped in the services of Kudumbashree, NSS, NCC, and Residents Associations besides health workers.
But the rising death toll has set off alarm bells ringing in the afflicted area and an enraged public in Mukkom had waylaid health workers recently.
District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr K. Narayana Naik claimed that the preventive measures were successful in containing the disease.
“Our thrust is on coastal and plantation surrounded areas. We have been largely successful in preventing the cases there,” he said. Meanwhile, on Tuesday 1093 fever cases were reported in the district.
