New Delhi

Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday urged the NCR states to reassess their preparedness to tackle dengue, particularly in light of the prolonged rainy season and waterlogging in certain areas.

Chairing a review meeting on dengue preparedness in Delhi-NCR, Nadda called for "Jan Chetna through Jan Bhagidari" as he emphasised the community's role in dengue control.

Hospital readiness, inter-sectoral coordination and community engagement are key to dengue preparedness, Nadda said.

At the meeting, the concerned states were advised to intensify vector control, and strengthen surveillance and rapid response in Delhi-NCR.

The meeting was attended by Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, AIIMS Delhi Director M Srinivas, Raja Iqbal Singh, Mayor, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and Sunita Dayal, Mayor, Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad, along with other senior health officials and hospital representatives from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The meeting was convened to undertake a comprehensive review of the epidemiological situation, preparedness of municipal bodies, hospitals and state governments, and to identify the gaps in surveillance, case management and vector control.

Special emphasis was laid on addressing the challenges arising from excessive rainfall, prolonged monsoon, and on galvanising inter-sectoral coordination between Central, state and local authorities, a health ministry statement said.

A presentation briefed Nadda on the nationwide dengue situation and preparedness of the country.

In 2024, 2,33,519 dengue cases and 297 deaths were reported from across the country. In 2025 (till August 31), 49,573 cases and 42 deaths have been reported, the statement said.

In Delhi, 964 cases have been reported till August 31 as compared to 1,215 cases reported in the corresponding period of last year, it said.

In the other NCR states, 1,646 cases have been reported from Uttar Pradesh, 298 from Haryana and 1,181 from Rajasthan, the statement said.

Nadda noted that while the incidence of dengue cases is currently low, the states should remain vigilant against a potential a spike in the number of cases.

He also urged them to reassess their preparedness, particularly in light of the prolonged rainy season and waterlogging in certain areas.

The states should proactively anticipate and prepare for any potential epidemics by clearly demonstrating their readiness, he said.

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Emphasising the importance of an aggressive IEC campaign, Nadda encouraged the adoption of innovative strategies to foster dengue awareness among the community, such as conducting special drives in schools, labour camps, and the dengue-prone areas.