Dengue Cases in India

New Delhi, August 21, 2013:

The number of reported cases and deaths due to dengue during current year in comparison to the corresponding period of last year is as under:

While the numbers of cases this year are more, the numbers of deaths have declined.  State/UT-wise cases and deaths are at Annexure-I.

Dengue is an outbreak prone disease transmitted through mosquito bites. There is no single reason attributable to increase of dengue cases. It is governed by various man-made and environmental factors as under: –

·           unprecedented human population growth;

·           unplanned and rapid urbanization;

·           inadequate waste management;

·              water supply mismanagement including water scarcity/ interrupted supply;

·           increased distribution and densities of vector  mosquitoes due to man-made, ecological and lifestyle changes;

·           gaps in public health infrastructure;

·           increase mobility of population;

·          poor infrastructure in the States to monitor  vector mosquito breeding.

The Government has taken the following other measures for prevention and control of Dengue in the country: –

·        National guidelines for clinical management of cases have been sent to the states for circulation in all hospitals.  These are also available on the website of NVBDCP.

·        Developed a Long Term Action Plan in January, 2007 and sent to the States for implementation.

·        In view of upsurge and geographical spread of dengue to newer areas, a Mid Term Plan has been developed for prevention and control of Dengue and approved by the Committee of Secretaries on 26^th May, 2011. The plan has been sent to the states for implementation.

·        The dengue situation in the country is monitored and reviewed with States/UTs.

·        Field visits are carried out by technical experts from NVBDCP to assess the preparedness at the field level and to provide technical guidance to the States.

·        Training is imparted to clinicians on case management as per GOI guidelines and to other health care functionaries on programme activities.

·        ELISA based IgM test kits are provided to SSHs through National Institute of Virology, Pune free of cost. During current year (till 22.07.13), a total of 1097 dengue diagnostic kits (1 Kit= 96 tests) have been provided by Centre to SSHs.

·        Introduced ELISA based NS1 test for early detection of cases from 1^st day of disease as distinct to IgM test which can detect the Dengue case after five days of disease.

·     Funds are provided to the States for prevention and control of vector borne diseases including Dengue to implement the public health activities.

·     Surveillance strengthened through 347 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSHs) Entomological surveillance strengthened.

·    Source reduction strengthened through domestic breeding checkers.

·    Focused IEC/BCC activities intensified.

·    Training for dengue case management and vector control organized at different levels.

·    For Outbreak Preparedness, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) has been constituted at state and district levels.

·   Advisories for preventive action and preparedness have also been issued to State Government as detailed at Annexure-II. 

Annexure-I

State-wise number of reported cases and deaths due to dengue during current year up to 31^st July 2013

*Provisional till 31^st July, 2013

Annexure-II

Advisories issued in 2013

This information was given by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

— CCI Newswire