As dengue cases rise at an alarming rate across the States, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday reviewed the situation caused by the vector-borne disease in the national Capital and directed the health secretary to send a team of experts to States with a high active caseload, for disease control and management.
The Union Minister said “full support” from the Centre has been assured to states. “Reviewed the dengue situation in Delhi and assured full support from the central government. On-ground initiatives, like hotspot identification, fogging and timely treatment will be carried out to curb the disease. The Centre is also sending a team of experts to States which have been seeing a rise in dengue cases,” Mandaviya said.
In the wake of a surge in cases of dengue in the capital, the Delhi Government has already asked the hospitals that they may use one-third of the beds reserved for coronavirus patients for those suffering from vector-borne diseases, if the need arises.
Doctors said earlier that despite the prevalence of the serotype 2 dengue virus associated with a higher risk of severe disease, most people are not showing severe symptoms. States reporting serotype - II dengue cases are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, MP, UP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
Dengue virus causes fever and haemorrhagic symptoms and is associated with more severe diseases.
Madhya Pradesh accounts for 9.5 per cent of all dengue cases reported across India this year, according to the Union health ministry data till September. The State has already recorded its highest ever dengue count in any year – 5,690. In sheer numbers and percentage, MP is third on the national list behind Uttar Pradesh (8,977, 14.9%) and Maharashtra (8,302,13.8%).
The national capital has reported 531 new cases of dengue during the week ending on October 30, taking the Capital’s total tally to 1,537 this year. Of these, 1,196 cases were reported in October. Punjab is also reeling under dengue cases with 16,129 cases, an all-time high figure since 2016.
“The Union health ministry is monitoring dengue cases being reported in Delhi and other states closely. An expert team will do detailed planning with the Delhi government to monitor cases. Awareness campaigns will also be run in schools. Necessary speed-testing will be conducted,” said an official from the Ministry.