This refers to your report “Government classifies dengue as notified disease” (July 15). Dengue, the world’s most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease, is taking a far bigger human toll than was believed to be the case. It is rearing its ugly head in India with new cases of infections and even deaths being reported from different States. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), incidence of dengue has shot up 30 fold in the past 50 years. Achieving ideal environment for mosquito eradication involves resources, money, education, community participation, change in attitude and political and social will. Increased knowledge among communities to seek early treatment for symptoms can resemble those of dengue. The onus lies on authorities and citizens to keep their surroundings clean. Unless citizens take the initiative to be cleaner, the municipal authorities are only fighting, rather pretending to fight, a losing battle. For many infectious diseases, good vaccines are available. Extensive research is on to develop a safe, efficacious and affordable vaccine against dengue too.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
