Health ministry wants states prepared

The health ministry has asked the states for intensive entomological monitoring to be carried out for identification of major problem areas

With the Union health ministry already facing heat due to the spread of the deadly swine flu, it seems that the Centre is in no mood to take chances any more.

Keeping in view the unprecedented rains of February, the health ministry has already asked the states to gear up public health activities for prevention and control of diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria and Japanese encephali- tis ( JE). In a recent letter to the states, the health ministry has asked them to precept the strategies shared with them for prevention and control of these diseases to initiate the activities before the onset of transmission for the arboviral diseases and malaria.

In a bid to be extra vigilant and avoid the spread of these diseases, the ministry has asked the states for intensive entomological monitoring to be carried out for identification of major problem areas.

According to the ministry, high- risk areas for all the diseases should be stratified and accordingly strategies of integrated vector management should be worked out.

“The letter has been sent to all the states so that preparations are done well in advance. The epidemiological data from various parts of the country shows an upsurge in the number of cases during the monsoon and post- monsoon periods. The unprecedented rains in February warranted to gear up the public health activities for prevention and control,” said a senior official.

Significantly, the ministry has also asked the states to ensure the availability of drugs, diagnosis, insecticides and other logistics.