Lok Sabha Question No. 987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Vaccine for Dengue
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023

## VACCINE FOR DENGUE

## 987: SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the reports stating an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any measures with regard to the spread of unscientific home remedies adopted by patients and the negative consequences of same and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has undertaken any measures/action to increase awareness along with promoting prevention of Dengue and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government is developing a vaccine for dengue virus and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF.S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a) As per information available with the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of cases of dengue fever in the country during the year the year 2021, 2022 and 2023 (as on 30th November) is as under:-
- (b) The NCVBDC has not received any report regarding unscientific home remedies adopted by the patients and the negative consequences of the same.
- (c) Government of India has taken the following measures to increase awareness for promoting

| Year                   | 2021     | 2022     | 2023 (as on 30 th November)   |
|------------------------|----------|----------|-------------------------------|
| Number of Dengue cases | 1,93,245 | 2,33,251 | 2,34,427                      |

prevention of Dengue:-

(i) Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities are carried out to create awareness among the community on Dengue using social media, Radio, Doordarshan, and distribution of handbills, skit during various Melas and events.

(ii) Drying Day is observed by the States/UTs to ensure elimination of vector breeding in water storage containers.

(iii) The National Dengue Day is observed on 16 th May for initiating pre-monsoon activities and Anti Dengue Month is observed in July for community awareness to keep their houses and surroundings mosquito breeding free.

(iv) Under National Health Mission, budgetary support is provided in an integrated manner with other vector borne diseases to States/UTs for community awareness activities for prevention of Dengue.

(v) For sensitising the school children, live demonstration of various stages of mosquito life cycle and preventive measures in different breading habitats are carried out.

(d) Development of a vaccine against dengue is very challenging mainly due to existence of four different serotypes with no cross-protection, no well-established animal models to understand the immunopathogenesis of disease, no established correlates of protection and lack of good immunological assays. The WHO target product profile for dengue vaccine is not yet available, as informed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR has recently signed an MoU with Panacea Biotech and Serum Institute of India for clinical trial of a dengue vaccine candidate.

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