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Context

• The Health Ministry has flagged the emerging challenge in 11 States across India of serotype 2 dengue, which it said is associated with “more cases and more complications” than other forms of the disease.

About Dengue

• It is a tropical disease that occurs in the countries around the Equator.
• Aedes aegypti transmits dengue virus.
• Aedes eggs can remain dormant for more than a year.
• The virus responsible for causing dengue, is called dengue virus (DENV).
• There are four DENV serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4), meaning that it is possible to be infected four times.

Reasons behind spread of Dengue

• Poor Urbanization
• Poor town planning
• Improper sanitation
• Dengue cases are often under-reported due to political reasons
• Low number of skilled manpower
• Due to this deficiency of manpower, active surveillance is not being done in India, according to National Vector Borne Disease Control Program.
• There is a lack of coordination between the local bodies and health departments in the delivery of public health measures.
• Medicine practitioners often argue that a proper double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial cannot be conducted as it involves huge money and manpower.

Holistic management of Dengue

• These mosquitoes bite during the daytime, so keeping the windows shut in the day hours is also useful.
• Preventing water stagnation
• Spreading chemicals in periodic cycles to kill the larvae.
• Singapore uses successful model of mapping and analyzing data on dengue, using Geographical Information System (GIS). This involves mapping the streets with dengue cases for vector densities.
• Fluid management is the cornerstone in the management of severe diseases like dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
• WHO recommends fresh whole blood or packed cell transfusion in the event of bleeding.
• Increase the number of personnel in the healthcare sector.
• Delhi government Mohalla Clinic is a successful model to engage local community in effective management of Dengue.

Vaccine

• As of 2021, one version is commercially available, known as CYD-TDV, and sold under the brand name Dengvaxia.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-room-for-any-complacency-with-covid-19-health-ministry/article36537660.ece

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