Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that dengue’s infection geography, which was restricted to eight States in 2001, currently covers all the States and Union Territories in India.

• Dengue has now breached the country’s last bastion, Ladakh.

Key Findings

• During the past two decades, there has been a significant geographical spread of dengue with an 11­ fold increase and repeated outbreaks.

• Rural areas contributed approximately 32% of the total cases in 2015-­16 and have increased to 41%-­45% now.

• The ICMR said that the risk from dengue, which is now endemic in more than 100 countries, has been propelled by several factors, including climate change, increased urbanisation and increased travel.

About Dengue

• Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito.

• These mosquitoes also spread chikungunya and Zika viruses.

• Dengue is caused by one of any of four related viruses: Dengue virus 1, 2, 3, and 4.  For this reason, people can be infected with dengue multiple times in their life.

• The mosquitoes that spread dengue are found in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including many parts of the United States.

• While many infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, it can occasionally cause more severe cases, and even death.

• Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control. There is no specific treatment for dengue/severe dengue, and early detection and access to proper medical care greatly lower fatality rates of severe dengue.

What are the various reasons for controlling the spread of Dengue?

• Dengue has been propelled by several factors, including climate change, increased urbanisation and increased travel, intermittent water supply and poor waste management at construction sites.

• The dengue vector is very different from the malaria vector and so, bio-environmental strategies alone will not work.

• Various problems in controlling Aedes: These include day-biting habit, multiple biting, long incubation period, fast transport, eggs retained up to one year, container breeding, etc.

How India is aiming to control the spread of dengue?

• Apart from vaccines, the government is also increasing awareness and promoting prevention, people’s participation, and the use of the latest technology, including satellite imaging and drones to map vulnerable areas.