Centre deploys health teams to combat dengue-outbreak states and Union Territories

Dengue cases are on the rise after rains as the Central government has deployed central teams of experts in 9 states and Union Territories across the country to combat the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases. The decision was taken after Haryana, Punjab, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir reported a considerable number of dengue cases.

"It has been decided by the competent authority to depute central teams to the identified states to assist the state governments by providing technical guidance, including public health measures, for managing the ongoing outbreak of dengue," an office memorandum sent to principal secretaries (Health) and directors general of health services of the nine states and UTs.

Expert teams include officials from the National Centre for Disease Control and National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Over 1200 cases of dengue were reported from Delhi in October, and 1000 cases so far in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh where most of the infections were also reported in October. 33 people died of dengue in Chandigarh. Dengue cases in Punjab have reportedly crossed 16,000 which exceeds the amount detected in the previous three years combined.