The Union Health Ministry has rushed high level medical teams to 8 states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been reporting high caseloads of Dengue. The team will help them in undertaking public health measures for control and management of the disease.

The 8 states are Haryana, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.

A total of 1,16,991 dengue cases have been reported by States and UTs across the country. Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

A significantly higher number of cases in some states were reported in October as compared to number of cases during the same month last year.

The Central teams have been tasked to assist and support states to mount an effective public health response. The teams have been asked to report on the status of vector control, availability of kits and medicines, early detection, availability and use of insecticides, status of anti-larval and anti-adult vector control measures. They will also brief the State Health authorities about their observations.