Geared up to tackle dengue: Health ministry

The union health ministry on Wednesday said it was gearing up to tackle the recent spurt in dengue cases in the national capital and other states and asked municipal authorities to coordinate towards this end.

"Health Minister J.P. Nadda has been personally reviewing the status of dengue in the country," an official release said.

In addition to this, several meetings have been taken with municipal bodies, Delhi government officials, Delhi Cantonment Board and directors of central government hospitals in Delhi to review the situation and preparedness to address and manage dengue and not allow it to escalate.

Health Secretary B.P. Sharma has asked the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and the Municipal Corporations to coordinate their activities towards this end, the release said.

It said the process of identifying the dengue serotype circulating in Delhi is underway at AIIMS and the result is expected within a week.

He also informed that in 2015, though more cases have been reported than 2014 till August 31, deaths have been comparatively less.

The health secretary has also written to his counterpart in the urban development ministry to allow access to several unoccupied buildings and rooftops of buildings for checking breeding.

The ministry has also undertaken intensive targeted multi-media activities to create mass awareness among the communities for prevention and control of Dengue, the release added.

The national capital has reported 301 dengue cases in the past one week and the total number of cases has crossed 830 till August.