Karnataka’s Hassan district reports 23 heart attack deaths in 40 days; Covid vaccine link being probed
PTC Web Desk: In a worrying trend, Karnataka’s Hassan district has reported 23 sudden heart attack-related deaths in just 40 days, raising concern across the state. The surge in fatalities has prompted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a high-level inquiry into the alarming rise in cardiac deaths, particularly among young people.
Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, CM Siddaramaiah said the government has taken serious note of the spike in heart-related deaths in the region and has constituted a panel to investigate the cause. The committee is headed by Dr CN Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, and has been directed to submit a detailed report within 10 days.
Notably, the Chief Minister highlighted the potential link between the deaths and Covid-19 vaccines. He stated that while the committee would consider all possibilities, “it cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine could also be a reason for these deaths,” referring to recent international studies that have hinted at vaccine-related cardiac complications.
The same committee was earlier tasked with examining sudden deaths among young individuals across Karnataka to determine any connection with Covid vaccines or other health factors.
CM Siddaramaiah also criticised the opposition BJP, accusing it of politicising a public health issue instead of reflecting on its past decisions during the pandemic.
Death toll spans all age groups
The panic in Hassan district escalated after four persons died of cardiac arrest on June 30 alone — a 50-year-old woman who collapsed after feeling fatigued; a 58-year-old lecturer died while drinking tea; a 57-year-old D-group worker passed away in hospital following chest pain and a 63-year-old man collapsed after complaining of discomfort.
Adding to the concern, a 27-year-old woodworker also died of a heart attack on Tuesday. What’s troubling authorities is that the fatalities are not restricted to older individuals. Of the 23 deaths, 6 victims were aged between 19 and 25 and eight were between 25 and 45. The remaining were over 45, with several above 60
This disturbing trend has also led to a notable 8% increase in patient visits to Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru, particularly from Hassan and nearby districts, as residents rush for precautionary cardiac screenings.
Alarming health data
According to the District Health and Family Welfare Department, Hassan has reported 507 heart attack cases in the last two years, with 190 fatalities. However, the sudden spike in younger fatalities over the past month has triggered fresh concern among public health officials. The cardiac crisis in Karnataka isn't isolated to Hassan. Other recent heart-related deaths in the state include: model and actress Shefali Jariwala, 42, who died of a heart attack on June 27; a 25-year-old man who collapsed during a wedding ceremony; a 28-year-old bodybuilder who died while working out; a 29-year-old dentist who suffered a cardiac arrest after a marathon in Goa and a 38-year-old gym trainer who also died of heart failure.
CM Siddaramaiah has urged citizens not to ignore symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue, or dizziness, and advised immediate medical attention at nearby health centres. He assured the public that the government is committed to protecting health and wellness, citing schemes like Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya, which aim to monitor and manage cardiac health across the state.
- With inputs from agencies
