He further informed that in 2017, due to dengue, as many as 325 deaths were reported across the country, out of which 65 and 37 deaths were reported from Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.
In 2018 (till June), of the total 22 deaths, one death from Tamil Nadu and 14 deaths from Kerala are reported due to dengue in the country.
While mentioning the steps taken by the government, he said:
- The government of India provided Technical Guidelines for prevention and control, case management and community participation to the states for its implementation (also uploaded on National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) website www.nvbdcp.gov.in).
- Periodic reviews were undertaken at the higher level through review meetings and video-conferences. Time to time, advisories are issued to states/union territories. During 2018 (till date), apart from the issuance of seven advisories to states/union territories, six review meetings and one video conference were held.
- Diagnosis provided through 618 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals and 16 Apex Referral laboratories identified across the country.