As dengue cases continue to rise in the country, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has voiced concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing containment measures. Bharadwaj expressed uncertainty regarding whether the directives to curb the spread of dengue are being followed, highlighting a growing unease between the Delhi government and bureaucratic bodies.
The MCD has already reported over 500 dengue cases this year, compared to 246 cases in June last year.
Telangana has seen a surge in dengue cases, with over 700 new cases reported in just four days. According to data released by the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, the number of cases in the state reached 5,372 as of August 25. On 21 August, the state had recorded 4,648 cases, adding 724 cases between 22 August and 25 August.
Bihar is also one of the worst-affected states; according to data the state health department shared on 26 August, six new dengue cases were registered in Bihar, including five in Patna. So far this year, 560 dengue cases have been registered in the state, including 226 in Patna.
Patna district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh also asked people to get ELSA tests for free at government medical colleges and hospitals.
In addressing the media on 27 August, Bharadwaj highlighted additional violations of dengue containment orders. “Other directives being violated include not submitting a report to the health ministry on hospitals not being mosquito breeding zones, no visits by top health officials to hospitals to ensure dengue preparedness, not scraping old tyres, engines, and old vehicles lying uncovered on the premises of government departments,” Bharadwaj stated.
Bharadwaj also informed that the predominant dengue virus detected in Delhi so far is DENV2, which is considered less severe than other strains. Nevertheless, he emphasised the importance of continued sample testing and genome sequencing while keeping all dengue preparedness arrangements on high alert.
Meanwhile, in Gautam Budh Nagar, to prevent private laboratories from charging patients exorbitant rates for dengue tests, the Gautam Budh Nagar health department on 26 August has fixed ₹600 as the maximum price for such diagnostic testing in the district, health officials said.
“The step aims to maintain standardisation and quality in dengue testing in the district. All private labs have been instructed to adhere to the fixed price of ₹600 by the health department and to not charge more than that under any circumstance,” said Dr Shruti Kirti Verma, district malaria officer (DMO).
Bharadwaj’s concerns follow his communication to the health secretary earlier this month, in which he flagged the issue of mosquito breeding and the rising cases of vector-borne diseases due to widespread waterlogging caused by heavy rains. “The most effective way to deal with the diseases is to spread mass awareness so that people and agencies prevent mosquitoes breeding in their neighborhood and children and elderly are educated to wear full sleeves and full trousers,” Bharadwaj’s letter read.
August and September normally sees a rise in Dengue cases due to heavy rains.
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