Lok Sabha Question No. 1134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Vector Control Measures
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1134 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  DECEMBER 2021

## VECTOR CONTROL MEASURES

## 1134. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU :

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  dengue  and  other  vector-borne  diseases  have  adversely  affected  the status of vector control, availability of kits and medicines, the availability and use of insecticides  and  status  of  anti-larval  and  anti-adult  vector  control  measures  in  the States/UTs;
- (b)     if so, the details there of  and the corrective measures taken in this regard; and
- (c)     the details of the progress made in any medical research studies being carried out for development of vaccines for dengue and other similar vector related disease in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) & (b)

During 2021 (till 21.11.21), a total number of 1,64,103 cases have been reported due to Dengue  in  the  country,  as  against  2,05,243  in  2019.  The  Case  Fatality  Rate  has  been sustained at <1% since 2008.  It has further come down below 0.2% in 2018 and 0.1% in 2019, which has been maintained at this level since then. Accordingly, it cannot be said that the Dengue cases are rising in the Country.

Government  of  India  monitors  availability  of  test  kits,  medicines  for  management  of cases  and  insecticides  for  use  as  anti-larval  and  anti-adult  vector  control  measures  for dengue & other vector borne diseases in the States. No report of stock out received from any State.

On receiving the reports of occurrence of Dengue cases in 2021, multidisciplinary Central Teams were deputed to 15 States and UTs of Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana,  Uttarakhand,  Delhi  and  Jammu  &  Kashmir  from  28th  August  to  19th November  2021.   The  teams  observed  that sufficient diagnostics kits, medicines, insecticides, fogging machines and funds were available with the State/UTs. The vector control measures and case management were also largely adequate. Central Teams have recommended  that  the  states  should  take  adequate  proactive  measures  for  source reduction and vector control, ensure early case detection and effective management of the cases.

(c )

Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) continuously supports research on clinical, epidemiological,  laboratory  and  basic  research  related  to  dengue  viral  disease,  by intramural  through  ICMR  Institutes  and  extramural  funding  by  providing  grants-in-aid given to projects in non-ICMR Institutes).

Vaccine  Research:  As  per  information  available  with  ICMR,  two  companies  in  India, Panacea  Biotech  and  Serum  Institute  of  India  have  taken  technology  of  the  tetravalent dengue  vaccine  candidate  from  NIH/NIAID,  USA  and  have  completed  phase  1  and  2 clinical trials in India and abroad. Both the companies are now intending to initiate phase 3 clinical trials in India.

ICMR is not currently planning any study on malaria vaccine.