Dengue menace in India claims 80 lives, 40,000 people affected till September: Health Ministry

Over 80 people have died owing to Dengue – the vector-borne viral disease, and around 40,000 people affected across India till September 30, this year, the Union Health Ministry said in a release.

Dengue has claimed the lives of 83 people and affected 40,868 persons till September 30, according to figures provided by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) under the Health Ministry.

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Maharashtra, Kerala and Chhattisgarh are the worst hit states with maximum dengue cases recorded till September 30.

Kerala: The mosquito-borne disease killed 35 people and 3,660 were affected in the state.

Maharashtra: At least 18 people died and 4,667 people were affected by the disease.

Chhattisgarh: Dengue killed 10 people while affecting 1,983 people in the state.

Delhi: No deaths were reported but as many as 1,156 people were affected by the disease. A municipal report released recently states that 830 people had been diagnosed with the vector-borne disease this season.

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In 2017, dengue had killed 325 people and affected around 1,88,401 people across the country, the ministry said.

Life threatening dengue fever is caused when the virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti. The symptoms include high fever, headache, rash and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, the patient may suffer serious bleeding and shock.

In Delhi, dengue cases have been on the rise since 1967 owing to lack of institutional mechanism and ineffective approach in dealing with the viral outbreak, according to reports.

On June 28, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal had directed local bodies and other agencies in the national capital to intensify vector control measures.

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