180 - Emerging Dengue Threat in Indian Subcontinent and Mitigating Strategies

Abstract: Emerging Dengue Threat in Indian Subcontinent and Mitigation Strategies

Ashwani Kumar
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Eduction (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai-602105, India: ashwani07@gmail.com; +919822154614

Dengue is a major public health concern in India. The first dengue-like illness was recorded in Chennai in 1780, and the first virologically-proven epidemic occurred in Kolkata in 1963-64 in India. In recent decades, India has witnessed several outbreaks and a significant rise in dengue cases, with all four serotypes of the dengue virus (DEN 1-4) circulating in different parts of the country. The disease, which earlier was reported in urban areas, has made inroads in rural areas with urbanization, which is linked with climate change and geographical expansion of Aedes aegypti. Outbreaks have been reported from the entire country like Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow and Gwalior in the North, Kolkata in the East, Maharashtra in the west and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala in the South India. A recent country-wide serosurvey study published in the Lancet Public Health suggests an average exposure of 50% of the population to dengue infection. The National Centre for Vector-Borne Disease Control (NCVDBC) frames guidelines for the prevention and control of dengue. The DHF and DSS cases are managed in public and private hospitals. Vector Control is the responsibility of public health authorities in rural areas and cities. The preventive strategy includes the disposal of container habitats, thermal and ULV fogging and spraying of temephos and Bti as lavicides. A tetravalent vaccine by Panacea Bio-tech is being tested in Phase-III trial in the country. The ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry has successfully backcrossed, reared and tested Wolbachia harbouring Aedes aegypti (w-Mel and w-Alb) for resilience and competence against dengue in the laboratory for their potential deployment in the field after regulatory and Govt. approvals.