Union Health Minister directs officials to strengthen preventive measures for Dengue

New Delhi: In view of the recent spike in dengue cases in several parts of the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital and reviewed the dengue situation and preparedness of public health system for prevention, containment, and the management of the disease, an official statement said.  

According to the official statement, the Union Health Minister directed the officials to be fully prepared against the rising cases of dengue and strengthen prevention, containment and management measures for the disease.

Also Read:Surge in dengue patients witnessed in several Delhi hospitals

Health Minister Mandaviya said that the central government has provided all necessary resources to the states in order to combat the spread of the disease and healthcare workers have also been trained.

He also stated that adequate fund is provided by the Centre to the States under the Program Implementation Plan (PIP) for activities including surveillance, case management, laboratory diagnosis, and insecticides, etc., to prevent and control dengue, the statement read.

Meanwhile, taking to 'X', Mandaviya wrote, "Reviewed the dengue situation and preparedness of public health system for prevention, containment & management of the disease in view of the recent spike in cases of Dengue. Urged States/UTs to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Centre for prevention & containment of dengue".

"The Central government has provided all necessary support to the states for screening kits and has provided financial support for fogging and IEC activities as well. Also directed officials to be fully geared up and strengthen prevention, containment and management measures for Dengue", he added.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal's Kolkata, the dengue outbreak has turned out to be serious as government hospitals along with private ones are in alert mode.

"The dengue situation this year is alarming. In my hospital as on September 25, a total of 90 cases are of dengue. Among them, 16 patients are in ICU, 15 are paediatric cases and 13 patients have been admitted in the last 24 hours. One person has died of dengue," Infectious Disease expert, Sayan Chakraborty from AMRI Hospital, Kolkata said on Monday speaking to a news agency.

Amidst a surge in dengue cases in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, earlier this week, said there is no case for serious concern and that authorities are monitoring cases on a day-to-day basis.

According to the latest estimates, the State has recorded 406 dengue cases this year alone.

"There is no serious concern regarding dengue. We are on alert mode and day-to-day monitoring has been done. Beds are reserved for patients and there is no scarcity of blood...," Uttar Pradesh Deputy chief minister said while speaking to a news agency.

According to the World Health Organisation, dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The National capital is also not untouched by the terror of the mosquito-borne disease.

Earlier this week, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has so far issued notices to 1.29 lakh houses in 2023 on finding mosquito larvae.