Concerned Cabinet secretary calls meeting on dengue

Concerned about the rise in dengue and chickungunya cases, the Cabinet secretary will take stock of the situation, review preparedness and also decide on the future course of action with a committee of secretaries (CoS) on Thursday.

The Union health secretary, secretary of the department of health research, secretary of the ministry of urban development, secretary of the ministry of information and broadcasting, as well as officials from the NDMC and MCD commissioners will be present during the meeting.

So far, 24,892 cases of dengue and 11,510 cases of chikungunya have been reported from the country. As per government data, a total of 53 deaths due to dengue have been reported so far from the country, with the maximum being reported from Kerala (4,982), followed by Orissa (4,642), West Bengal (4,223), Karnataka (3,534), Maharashtra (1,959), Tamil Nadu (1,163), Gujarat (973), Andhra Pradesh (560) and Assam (458).

Out of the total 53 deaths due to dengue, 20 have been from West Bengal, nine from Orissa, six each from Karnataka and Kerala, three from Tamil Nadu, two each from Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry. Around 35 states have been affected by dengue so far.

Chikungunya has been reportedly endemic in 28 states. During 2016, a total of 11,510 suspected chikungunya cases have been reported from Karnataka (8,667), followed by Andhra Pradesh (481), Telangana (392), West Bengal (389) Maharashtra (822), Gujarat (196) and Goa (145).

Epidemologists said that the coming days are crucial and cases may further go up, with the weather being conducive for mosquito breeding. Dengue cases have already increased in 2016 as compared to 2015. While a total of 24,892 dengue cases have been recorded from across the country in 2016 till August 21, 18,417 were recorded in 2015 till August. Likewise, in 2013 18,840 cases of chikungunya were reported.

However, in 2016 11,510 cases of chikungunya have already come forward. Officials said that they were leaving no stone unturned and have been alerting the states to be vigilant.

A total of 11 advisories have been sent to the states, with the health secretary writing to the chief secretaries of endemic states emphasizing preventive measures in industrial set up. The Union health minister JP Nadda also recently held a video conference asking the states for strengthening preparedness for preventive, diagnostic, case management and monitoring.