New Delhi: In view of the recent spike in Dengue cases in several parts of India, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting in Delhi on Wednesday (September 27) and reviewed the situation and preparedness of the public health system for prevention, containment, and management of the vector-borne disease. To strengthen healthcare services and combat the spread of the disease, the central government has provided all necessary resources to the states, from training the healthcare workers to providing adequate funds to the states under the Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) for activities including surveillance, case management, laboratory diagnosis, insecticides, etc.
Also Read: The Rise Of Dengue: Know All About The Causes, Symptoms And Measures To Stay Safe
Dr Mandaviya took to Twitter to detail the review meeting.
Reviewed the Dengue situation & 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. pic.twitter.com/vdmgApzfKL
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 27, 2023
Several states and cities have reported a surge in Dengue cases.
Also Read: Dengue: Delhi Conducts Trial To Spray Larvicide Using Drones; To Be Used In Inaccessible Areas
West Bengal
The government and private hospitals in West Bengal are on alert mode amid the surge in the Dengue cases. Infectious disease expert Sayan Chakraborty from Advanced Medicare & Research Institute (AMRI) Hospital, Kolkata, said,
The Dengue situation this year is alarming. In my hospital as of September 25, a total of 90 cases are of Dengue. Among them, 16 patients are in the ICU, 15 are paediatric cases, and 13 patients have been admitted in the last 24 hours. One person has died of Dengue.
Uttar Pradesh
Amidst a rise in Dengue cases in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said there is no case for serious concern and that authorities are monitoring cases on a day-to-day basis. So far, the state has recorded 406 Dengue cases this year, ANI reported. The Deputy Chief Minister said,
There is no serious concern regarding Dengue. We are in alert mode, and day-to-day monitoring has been done. Beds are reserved for patients, and there is no scarcity of blood.
Maharashtra
The Nagpur civic body has activated a helpline number amid a reported outbreak of Dengue in the city. The helpline number will enable citizens to seek assistance for the vector-borne disease.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Wednesday that infection cases are under control in the state. He further said,
Dengue cases are under control in the state this year. Till now, it’s just 4,000 cases, and the death rates are also decreasing. We have conducted several awareness campaigns about the prevention of the vector-borne disease. Besides, from October 1, Dengue and other fever camps will be conducted across 100 places.
Also Read: Dengue Situation In Bengal ‘Quite Alarming’, Not Critical, Say Experts
Experts Detail Causes, Symptoms And Measures Of Dengue fever
NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India spoke to Dr. Ajay Agarwal, Head of Department, Fortis Hospital, Noida, and Dr. Dhiren Gupta, Senior Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, about the symptoms, causes of the Dengue fever and the preventive measures people can inculcate.
The experts said that the symptoms vary from headache, mild fever, throat pain, bodyache, vomiting, recurrent loose motions, swollen glands, nausea, pain in the eyes, mild breathlessness, etc. If the fever is detected late, the symptoms worsen and the patient may also require hospitalisation, Dr Gupta added.
Dr Ajay Agarwal said that patients with mild or moderate symptoms are required to stay at home, include plenty of fluids in their diet and use medicines to bring down the fever if prescribed by the doctor. Patients with severe symptoms may require hospitalisation and platelet transfusions, he said.
“Prevention of the complication is the major treatment for Dengue,” Dr Dhiren Gupta emphasised. Consulting the hospital right after recognising early signs can help reduce a significant number of cases, he said.
Maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness can help reduce Dengue fever cases in a huge way, Dr Gupta said. He said that other preventive measures individuals can follow include wearing protective clothing during the monsoon season, to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes; using insect repellents at home; avoiding the accumulation of water in home appliances, flower pots, and vases as it would not allow these species to thrive; and cleaning drains at home to prevent any kind of blockage.
Also Read: Over 3000 Dengue Cases In Delhi This Year; Highest For September In Last Four Years: MCD
(With inputs from ANI and PTI )
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoilets are used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
