Need for coordination to tackle spread of dengue,chikunguniya:

Nadda New Delhi, Sep 13 (PTI) Union Health Minister J P Naddatoday stressed on the need for close coordination between theCentre and states to deal with the outbreak of dengue andchikungunya, which have affected about 40,000 people in thecountry, even as he said there was no need to panic. He assured all help to states in fighting the spread ofvector-borne diseases and said it should not be an issue forindulging in blame game. "We will try to fulfill all requirements. Whether it isdengue or chikungunya, we should not panic. "There is a need to give symptomatic treatment…We areready to offer all help to state governments. This is not anissue for the Centre and states to indulge in blame game. Weshould work together," Nadda said. 60 people have died across the country due to dengue.Three people have died in Delhi due to Chikungunya, whichotherwise is non-fatal. However, a senior Health Ministry official said thechikungunya deaths are being probed by its agencies toascertain the exact reasons. As per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme(NVBDCP), around 27,879 cases of dengue have been reportedacross the country and 60 people have succumbed to the diseasetill August 31. 5,000 cases each have been reported from West Bengal,Odisha and Kerala. While West Bengal has reported 5,129 denguecases and 22 deaths, the disease has affected 5,183 people andclaimed nine lives in Odisha. AIIMS, Delhi, has reported five "suspected" dengue deathsthis month. The national capital has recorded nine denguedeaths this year. The number of those diagnosed with the virusin the city has risen to over 1,150. Around 12,255 cases of chinkungunya have been reportedacross the country. Karnataka alone has recorded 8,941. Two chikungunya deaths were today reported from thenational capital, taking the number of fatalities due to thevector-borne disease in the city to three. PTI TDS GVS SKGVS