Bengaluru, Aug 6: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday expressed concern over the limited number of vascular surgeons in the country, at a time when there is an increase in vascular diseases.

The minister was speaking to reporters after flagging off a walkathon, organised by the Vascular Surgeons Association from the city's Town Hall to Kanteerava stadium on the occasion of World Vascular Day.

"It is an age of growing vascular diseases and we have limited vascular surgeons in the country. For a population of 1.3 billion, we have only around 500 vascular specialists. Spreading awareness about vascular health is paramount both in rural and urban areas," Sudhakar said.

"We have to ensure a strict health regimen to protect our blood vessels. If this is not done, it could lead to severe health problems including non-communicable diseases or aneurysms, etc. These in turn could cause life threatening situations," he said.

Further pointing out that some people are prone to vascular diseases, the minister said, "Every six seconds, a person loses his or her leg in the world. We need to increase awareness among youngsters and those professionals who are prone to such issues because of their professions like policemen, teachers, etc. who stand for long periods of time."

Awareness must also be created among professionals who have to work in front of computers for long duration, who have a sedentary lifestyle, he said, adding that the Karnataka government will take all necessary measures to prevent vascular diseases.

Sudhakar said, as of now, there hasn't been a single case of monkeypox in the state.

"However, we are being vigilant. We are taking up surveillance measures at our state borders and we have taken all precautionary measures.

"We have also made sure there is thermal screening at every port and airport round the clock. There are three officials at each place working in 8-hour shifts. This is the reason why no case has been reported in Karnataka," Sudhakar added.

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Sydney, Jan 4: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar feels India will struggle to defend even 200 in case premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is unable to bowl at full throttle on the third day of the fifth and final Test against Australia here on Sunday.

Bumrah had left the field for scans during the second day's post-lunch session after bowling just one over, having experienced some discomfort. However, he returned to the dressing room after undergoing precautionary scans for an unspecified niggle.

India pacer Prasidh Krishna said his skipper had suffered back spasm.

The medical team was monitoring him as India ended the day 145 runs in front with four second innings wickets left on a SCG track which is aiding the bowlers.

"Look, if India scores 40 more runs or they put 185 on the board then they have a great chance but it all depends on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness. If Jasprit Bumrah is fit then 145-150 might be enough. But if Bumrah is not fit then a score of around 200 also might not be enough," said Gavaskar on Star Sports on Saturday.

Gavaskar also said maintaining secrecy around Bumrah's status is not going to help the Australians, who have so far struggled to counter the threat posed by the Indian pace spearhead.

"One thing that I liked was when he came back after the scan, obviously it took a lot of time because the hospital is a bit far, but he looked in good shape and his body language was such that there was no indication of the Australian team and it is very important to maintain the secrecy.

"Because, tactically you do not want to announce whether Bumrah will be available for bowling or not, and even if he is not available and this news goes across the opposition dressing room because till now Australian batsmen haven't found out a way to counter him, they don’t know whether they should attack, defend, or whether they should play on front-foot.

"So to execute this plan it is important to maintain secrecy, so Bumrah and the Indian team management managed it quite well," Gavaskar said.

The pacer has already taken 32 wickets in the series, and had figures of 2/33 in 10 overs before leaving the field, having removed Marnus Labuschagne in the morning session and Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the first evening.