Not just with 100% literacy rate, but Kerala also tops with the highest number of dengue cases in the state this year. As per Kerala health department figures, 9,606 cases with 17 deaths have been reported in the state till July 4.
Over 18,700 cases of dengue have been reported in the country this year, the maximum number of cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 4,174 cases, Karnataka 1,945 cases, Gujarat 616, Andhra Pradesh 606 and West Bengal 469, among other states, till July 2.
The capital city New Delhi is also in the queue with dengue cases recorded touching nearly 100, with 44 of the infection cases diagnosed here being traced to other states.
Union health minister J P Nadda on 4th July, held a review meet on preparedness for vector-borne diseases here, which was attended by health secretary C K Mishra, director general of ICMR Soumya Swaminathan, senior officials of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and other institutions.
The Minister said, “We held two reviews, one for Delhi and the other for rest of the states and UTs. And, I can say that we are satisfied with our preparedness. We have already held three videoconferences on this matter and issued 13 advisories. The secretary (health) will soon hold video conferences with other states.”
According to Mishra, Kerala is battling a multiple onslaught of dengue, malaria and other such diseases due to early arrival of monsoon. He also said, “We had already sent a team there and it has come back after assessing the situation. But, no request has come from Kerala side on this matter. The state has a robust health mechanism though.”
And many of these reported cases include suspected ones too, so the final confirmed cases tally would only come by the year end, after the season ends, he added.
Not just dengue but chikunguniya cases have also been reported in the country till July 2. Karnataka has recorded highest number of cases with 4,047.
