Need for coordination to tackle spread of dengue, chikunguniya: Centre

New Delhi: Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday stressed on the need for close coordination between the Centre and states to deal with the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya, which have affected about 40,000 people in the country, even as he said there was no need to panic.

He assured all help to states in fighting the spread of vector-borne diseases and said it should not be an issue for indulging in blame game.

"We will try to fulfil all requirements. Whether it is dengue or chikungunya, we should not panic.

"There is a need to give symptomatic treatment. We are ready to offer all help to state governments. This is not an issue for the Centre and states to indulge in blame game. We should work together," Nadda said.

60 people have died across the country due to dengue. Three people have died in Delhi due to Chikungunya, which otherwise is non-fatal.

However, a senior Health Ministry official said the chikungunya deaths are being probed by its agencies to ascertain the exact reasons.

As per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), around 27,879 cases of dengue have been reported across the country and 60 people have succumbed to the disease till August 31.

5,000 cases each have been reported from West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala. While West Bengal has reported 5,129 dengue cases and 22 deaths, the disease has affected 5,183 people and claimed nine lives in Odisha.

AIIMS, Delhi, has reported five "suspected" dengue deaths this month. The national capital has recorded nine dengue deaths this year. The number of those diagnosed with the virus in the city has risen to over 1,150.

Around 12,255 cases of chinkungunya have been reported across the country. Karnataka alone has recorded 8,941. Two chikungunya deaths were on Tuesday reported from the national capital, taking the number of fatalities due to the vector-borne disease in the city to three.