In 2024, 2.3 lakh dengue cases and 297 deaths were recorded. According to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) website, the country recorded the highest number of dengue cases in 2023: 2.8 lakh cases and 485 deaths, the highest since 2019. The two southern states — Kerala and TN — are followed by Karnataka with 1,480 cases. However, no deaths were reported in the State in the past two months till June, as per provisional data shared in the parliament by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel. The fourth southern state to see a hike is Andhra Pradesh, which reported 376 cases and one death. The other states that reported dengue, a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people, are: Maharashtra (1345), Telangana (433), Gujarat (305), Rajasthan (293), Uttar Pradesh (289), Delhi (175), Odisha (158), Uttarakhand (146), Mizoram (141), Madhya Pradesh (111), Punjab (101) and Puducherry (74). West Bengal has not reported the dengue cases to the ministry. The Union Health Ministry administers an umbrella programme – National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) – for prevention and control of vector-borne diseases, namely malaria, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis.The officials said they regularly monitor the surge of vector-borne diseases in the country through regular reviews and reports submitted by the states and UTs and through field visits.The officials added that as the risk of vector-borne diseases increases during the monsoon and post-monsoon period, the Centre starts preparatory activities well before the monsoon season.They also said that the Centre takes a series of preventive and containment measures to prevent and control the surge in cases of vector-borne diseases in the country, especially in high-incidence urban areas.
Source link
