According to the Health Department, till last Wednesday, the number of dengue cases this year has reached 3,11,014 and the number of deaths has reached 1,615. The health department only keeps track of patients coming to hospital, but does not have records of patients who receive treatment at home without going to hospital, or who die before receiving treatment. According to concerned officials, the number of patients outside the hospital is at least four times that.
Previously, dengue outbreaks occurred mainly during the rainy season, the breeding season for the Aedes mosquito, which spreads the dengue virus. With the end of monsoon, dengue will also reduce. Since last year, dengue outbreak is being seen in winter also.
Unfortunately, policy makers are trying to deal with dengue in a routine manner. The result was that the situation almost went out of control. According to public health experts, even though dengue has taken a serious form, the government does not have much control over the disease. The government is not allocating necessary funds for monitoring and research. Only information about hospitalized patients is recorded by health authorities. But apart from this, there is no information about the large number of people who are undergoing treatment at home. Patients outside the hospital should also be identified and examined.