Cases of dengue fever have touched a seven-year high in India, with 1,46637 people being hospitalised till November 26 this year across the States. Southern States are worst hit. Tamil Nadu tops the list by registering ten-fold increase in dengue cases, from 2,000 in 2016 to 20,000 cases so far till November 26, this year followed by Kerala which too has seen a sharp jump from 7,439 dengue cases in 2016 to 19,638 in 2017.
According to the data available from the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVDCP) under the Union Health Ministry, mortality is also on the rise in many states. The vector-borne virus causing mosquito has already killed around 221 people against 245 last year. (See Table)
Experts say that actual number could be much higher given that many are either not reported by hospitals while many are not able to avail medical facilities.
In fact, sharp rise in dengue cases in Tamil Nadu had stumped the State Government too whose Deputy Chief Minister had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi with whom among other issues, he also discussed on the steps taken by the state government to check spread of dengue.
“PM has been apprised about the steps taken by the government and he has ordered a central government’s medical team to visit the state to assess the situation,” he had said.
Officials in the Union Health Ministry says that Union Health Minister JP Nadda has been conducting review meeting with the states and more than 13 advisories have been sent to all of them, as early as January for strengthening their preparedness before the season kicks in.
Nadda was further informed that the ministry has requested various states/UTs to declare dengue as a notifiable disease for improving its reporting and taking preventive measures in affected areas.