Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 15: Experts are of the opinion that testing only 25 per cent of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in the state is not the right development. They have observed that mostly those suffering from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and ILI also fall prey to coronavirus infection.

A member of the COVID experts committee, Dr Giridhar Babu, strongly expressed the opinion that the number of tests has to be substantially increased. "There has been a marked increase in SARI and ILI cases. Testing only 25 per cent of these cases is not a good development. The report has laid bare the information that only 25 per cent of ILI cases have been tested and only 20,834 persons with ILI symptoms have been subjected to tests so far. There is a need to test everyone who exhibits symptoms. Those who face these problems face grave danger," he observed.

He said that 2.3 per cent positive cases have been found in the city while 1 per cent of cases have been found in Bagalkot. In other districts too, a very less percentage is reported. Every district should have 1 to 2.5 per cent," he said.

A senior doctor of Apollo Hospital Jayanagar here, Dr Raveendra Mehta, too supported the demand of subjecting more and more SARI and ILI cases to tests. He observed that many people, in spite of exhibiting symptoms of the disease, dismiss the same as a common cold.