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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Towards a multi-stakeholder dengue preparedness strategy
Dengue, often mistaken for a seasonal affliction, is increasingly showing signs of becoming a year-round concern. According to Environmental Health Perspectives, dengue transmission occurs for an average of 5.6 months in a year--making it a recurrent, near-perennial threat in many parts of India. Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes and is common in tropical climates(unsplash) National dengue data reveals that India had 2,33,519 dengue cases and 297 deaths in 2024, as compared to a mere 12,043 cases and 6 deaths in 2005. As the number of dengue cases keep rising, it is important to take a look into the manifestation of dengue in communities. To tackle this, the government has made significant strides in dengue control through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), which coordinate outbreak monitoring and rapid response across states. Dengue Case Fatality Rate has decreased from 3.3% in 1996 to 0.17% in 2023. These systems enable timely detection, data collection, and public awareness campaigns, contributing to improved early warning and case reporting. However, as transmission patterns shift and vulnerabilities deepen, there is a pressing need to strengthen health care infrastructure further and ensure that outbreak response mechanisms are resilient, inclusive, and responsive to evolving needs. Dengue transmission occurs with high frequency in informal settlements and migrant housing clusters. Open drains, crowded shelters, erratic water supply (that forces water storage) create fertile breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Studies conducted across India mirror the same results – be it Gujarat, Delhi or Kerala. The knowledge and practices relating to dengue among marginalised sections remain fraught with inconsistencies. A study in Delhi showed that 77% of the population was worried about mosquitoes, but only 43% monitored their environment. An observational study conducted among factory workers in Jammu presented that although a majority of workers (92.56%) were aware about dengue about 81.81% did not know about its nature, symptoms and complications. For marginalised communities, the barriers to health care access are deeply entrenched and often intersectional. Women, trans and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals, persons with disabilities, and those from economically or socially disadvantaged backgrounds frequently face systemic exclusions. Women, particularly from low-income households, often encounter gendered barriers to mobility, autonomy, and decision-making in health care. For persons with disabilities, the challenges range from inaccessible infrastructure to communication. When routine health care remains difficult to access for these populations, outbreak-specific care—such as during dengue surges—becomes even more limited and inequitable. Health care infrastructure, especially in densely populated urban areas, can come under immense strain during outbreak seasons. Addressing this challenge requires recognising that dengue is not merely a health issue--it is also closely tied to civil infrastructure, including water management, sanitation, housing, and urban planning. Ensuring adequate beds, medical staff, and supplies is only one part of the equation. Preventive action must be woven into the design of our cities and neighbourhoods. Strengthening dengue preparedness will therefore benefit from coordinated action between health departments, municipal bodies, and community-based organisations to build resilient, responsive systems that reduce disease vulnerability while improving overall well-being. Moreover, disaggregated official data is critical in understanding why dengue appears in communities, what can be done to curb its inception and how it can be treated in a context-sensitive manner. This is why India's dengue strategy may need to consider a shift--from a reactive, monsoon-driven containment to a more year-round, community-informed care. Context focused, inclusive interventions must take the centre stage. As transmission patterns shift and vulnerability deepens, tackling dengue's structural inequities can involve collaborative, year-round interventions—like those led by the EquiHealth Alliance, which unites public, private, and community actors to co-create context-sensitive, inclusive solutions. EquiHealth Alliance is also supporting these efforts through state level convenings in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, including integrated community outreach in prevention, proactive and data-backed surveillance, and financing innovation as the elements of a comprehensive dengue response, cognisant of the innovations in therapeutics and the future of dengue management. While India is in the final stages of clinical trials and approvals for dengue vaccines, access will depend on delivery strategies that prioritise vulnerable communities rather than urban centres alone. Dengue may be vector-borne, but its burden is deeply human. An effective response demands care models that are accessible, affordable, and equitable—built not just to treat illness, but to prevent it where it starts. This article is authored by Madhavika Bajoria, executive director, AVPN (health and nutrition platform).
India Today
7 days ago
- Health
- India Today
What's Delhi's dog-bite reality that has alarmed the Supreme Court too
"My parents have stopped going for walks outside society due to aggressive dog gangs," a Delhi resident recently posted on social media, thanking the Supreme Court for stepping in after reports of a disturbing surge in rabies cases and deaths in the national July 28, the Supreme Court termed the rising number of dog-bite cases and deaths as "deeply disturbing", especially among children and the elderly. The bench, led by Justice JB Pardiwala, cited a recent Times of India report titled 'City hounded by strays, kids pay price', which documented the increasing menace of stray dogs and the failure of civic authorities to get the crisis under concern gained urgency after the death of a six-year-old girl, Chavi, after a dog attack. She was on her way to her aunt's house when a stray dog attacked her, biting her repeatedly on her leg, arm and being taken to multiple hospitals for treatment, her condition deteriorated. Less than a month later, she passed away. Her family recalls that she had started attending school just two days before the it a matter that required immediate judicial intervention, Justice Pardiwala remarked, "This is the first matter we should take up on the first day of the week."Taking suo motu cognisance, the Supreme Court ordered its registry to register a public interest writ petition under its own motion and directed that it be placed before Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai for further orders and threat posed by stray dogs is not just in Delhi. In cities like Bengaluru and Srinagar too, dog attacks have spread fear and panic. WHY DOG BITES CAN BE DANGEROUSDog bites can be dangerous for two main reasons: the physical trauma they cause and the risk of a small bite can tear skin, injure muscles or nerves, and lead to bacterial infections if not treated properly. But it is the threat of rabies that makes the situation far more is a viral disease that attacks the brain and nervous symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. The virus spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, usually via a bite. Because of this, doctors recommend immediate wound cleaning and post-exposure vaccination even in seemingly minor killed approximately 5,700 people in India in 2022-23, according to a Lancet OF DANGER: DATA ON DOG BITES IN DELHIThe scale of the crisis is stark in the numbers. Data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) shows that dog bite cases in Delhi rose from 6,691 in 2022 to 17,874 in 2023, and further to 25,210 in 2024. That's an overall increase of nearly 277% in just two surge continues into 2025, with 3,196 cases reported in January have been to data cited by The Indian Express, Safdarjung Hospital, one of the largest government-run centres, reported 63,361 dog bite cases in 2021. By July 2025, the number had already climbed to 91,009, surpassing the earlier annual figures by 43.6%.At Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, the cases rose from 39,216 between April 2022 and March 2023 to 45,432 between April 2023 and March 2025, marking a 13% MCD-run Bara Hindu Rao Hospital also saw a spike, with 4,861 cases till July this year, 40% higher than the 3,468 cases recorded in the same period last problem is not limited to Delhi. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district, which borders the capital, 74,550 animal bite incidents, including both stray and pet-related cases, were recorded between January and May this year ARE AUTHORITIES TACKLING THE DOG BITE DANGER?Authorities are attempting to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), along with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), has rolled out the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE), with the goal of eliminating rabies by Delhi, the Municipal Corporation has been working with NGOs and veterinary professionals to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) late 2022 and early 2024, over 1 lakh sterilisation procedures were carried out, against an annual target of 80,000-90, long-term aim is to achieve 70-80% sterilisation coverage in each ward, but progress remains uneven, with only some wards meeting the citizens, the MCD-311 app and the helpline number 155305 have been made available to report stray dog issues and request sterilisation drives. To build public trust, the system allows residents to receive updates and even photos of the dogs once action has been situation of stray dogs and attacks by them in Delhi are scary. With the civic authorities sleeping and people panicking, it is the Supreme Court that had to ultimately step in.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mizoram reports 5 new Covid cases, active tally rises to 6: Officials
Aizawl: At least five people have been registered in Mizoram with Covid-19 infection during the past 24 hours, state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officials said on Friday. With these new cases, the total number of active Covid-19 cases stands at six. The officials said 19 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the state so far this year. All those identified as infected are from Aizawl district. No deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported this year and none of the patients are reported to have serious symptoms. Covid-19 infections were first identified in the state this year in mid-May, when two cases were reported. The officials said last year, 73 people were infected with Covid-19.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Govt intensifies control measures, as state reports over 650 dengue cases
1 2 Bhubaneswar: The state has reported over 650 dengue cases, including more than 200 cases in Bhubaneswar, since Jan 1, prompting the govt to intensify both active and passive surveillance efforts to curb the spread of the vector-borne disease, officials said. Dr Nilakantha Mishra, director of public health, said Malkangiri and Cuttack followed Bhubaneswar with 60 and 50 cases, respectively. Mishra said that out of 50,000 dengue tests conducted this year, over 650 returned positive. "This year, we observed a decrease in dengue cases compared to last year's 1,080 recorded till July last week," he said. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is actively analysing the situation across various areas to implement necessary control measures. With the capital city recording the highest number of dengue cases, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and health teams have ramped up efforts to control the situation. Official sources said Patia, Sikharchandi and Prasanti Vihar are the primary areas reporting new cases. In response, BMC is working to eliminate breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, the carrier of dengue virus. Health teams are also engaging in community outreach to educate residents about dengue prevention. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo They are urging people to avoid storing water in and around their homes, as stagnant water serves as mosquito breeding ground. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the impact of dengue and protect public health. "As the state continues to battle the seasonal surge in dengue cases, authorities remain vigilant, employing a combination of surveillance, community engagement and mosquito control measures to safeguard citizens," said the officer. Last year, dengue cases were reported in Balasore, Khurda and Sundargarh districts. Therefore, the govt has taken steps for extensive public awareness, diagnosis and treatment for the prevention and control of malaria and dengue cases. Emphasis was also placed on creating widespread public awareness through information, education and communication measures to prevent the diseases.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Stray dogs attack kills 70-year-old man in Bengaluru, family says he was out for a walk: Report
In a tragic and chilling incident, a 70-year-old man was allegedly killed by a pack of stray dogs just outside his residence in Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, during the early hours of Sunday, reported NDTV. The deceased, identified as Seethappa, had reportedly stepped out around midnight for a walk after struggling to sleep when the fatal attack occurred. A pack of stray dogs killed a 70-year-old man in Bengaluru. (Pic for representation) According to the report, family members were jolted awake by disturbing noises and rushed outside to find a group of at least eight stray dogs attacking Seethappa. The elderly man sustained grievous injuries to his face, limbs, and torso, with large chunks of flesh torn off. Though he was immediately rushed to the hospital, doctors declared him brought dead. Also Read - Bengaluru among top districts in Karnataka's alarming 2.3 lakh dog bite cases: Report The Kodigehalli Police have taken up the case and filed an Unnatural Death Report (UDR). Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage from the area and speaking to local residents to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the attack. Stray dog attacks raise across Karnataka This incident comes amid rising concern over stray dog attacks across Karnataka. According to recent data released by the State Health Department under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the state has recorded a sharp 36% rise in dog bite cases in the first six months of 2025 — with 2.31 lakh bite cases and 19 rabies-related deaths reported between January and June. During the same period in 2024, there were 1.69 lakh bite cases and 18 deaths. Also Read - Bengaluru man lured via gay dating app, robbed and assaulted, two arrested: Report The growing menace has sparked widespread anxiety, especially after a recent viral video from Hubballi showed a three-year-old girl being viciously attacked by stray dogs on the street, further fuelling public outrage.
