Nadda calls out states to intensify efforts against Dengue, Malaria

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda urged states, local bodies, and communities on Wednesday to intensify preventive and control measures, particularly during the upcoming high-risk period, to safeguard public health.

During a meeting conducted by the health ministry, which included the Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, and other senior officers, Nadda reviewed the current Dengue and Malaria situation in the country.

Advertisement

He issued an advisory to all chief ministers, urging them to remain vigilant and prepare action plans within 20 days, while Municipal Corporations, Panchayats, and local bodies were asked to intensify community awareness drives for effective control of Dengue and Malaria.

Officials said hospitals, including those run by the Centre, have been told to stock up on medicines, diagnostic kits, and beds, and to keep their premises mosquito-free. The minister also urged states and local bodies to step up preventive measures as stagnant water left by recent heavy rains raises the risk of malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

With the recent flooding of the Yamuna in Delhi, the minister called for a high-level review meeting for Delhi and the NCR to assess the current dengue situation in the national capital and take necessary steps to augment actions for control.

According to the National Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases Control, India has recorded nearly 12,000 dengue cases and six deaths till March this year.

Between 2019 and 2024, the country reported over 1.1 million cases, with Uttar Pradesh (1,15,113) registering the highest tally, followed by Karnataka (90,277), Maharashtra (77,980), Rajasthan (76,407), and Punjab (73,090). Kerala, however, accounted for the most deaths — 358 — despite a relatively lower case count of 54,134. Maharashtra (203 deaths), Punjab (184), Rajasthan (149), and Uttar Pradesh (139) also reported high fatalities.

Meanwhile, Malaria cases in India have been rising steadily since 2021, from 1.6 lakh in 2021 to over 2.5 lakh in 2024, climbing by more than 90,000 cases in four years. Deaths, however, have remained relatively stable at around 80–90 per year, as documented in the government data.