Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting on July 1, 2026, to assess dengue preparedness in Delhi as part of the Government of India's efforts to strengthen public health response to seasonal vector-borne diseases. The meeting focused on reviewing the epidemiological situation, evaluating healthcare institution readiness, and assessing civic agency preparedness.
Minister Nadda noted that the current national dengue incidence remains low with a mortality rate of 0.11%, but emphasized the need for vigilant preparedness for potential upsurge in coming months. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Dengue, known as the 'Octalogue', which operates across eight pillars: surveillance, case management, vector management, outbreak response, capacity building, behaviour change communication, inter-sectoral coordination, and monitoring & supervision.
Key directives included intensifying vector control in areas with increased fever cases, strengthening entomological surveillance to identify hotspots, and maintaining fever surveillance across all affected areas. The Minister emphasized hospital readiness requirements including dedicated wards, sufficient beds, blood components, diagnostics, drugs, and insecticides, with alerting of Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals and other public and private facilities.
The meeting mandated establishing rapid response mechanisms with standby teams, timely case reporting on IHIP-VBD from all hospitals including private facilities, and daily district-level review meetings to track outbreaks. Inter-sectoral coordination was emphasized among municipal bodies, railways, cantonment board, public health engineering, and health departments for effective sanitation and vector control drives.
Community engagement was highlighted through IEC activities during the 'Anti Dengue Month' of July, promoting preventive measures such as mosquito nets and full-sleeved clothing, leveraging schools, RWAs, market associations, community leaders, SHGs, and youth clubs for awareness campaigns. The approach emphasized 'Jan Chetna through Jan Bhagidari' (public awareness through public participation) involving Ward Commissioners, elected representatives, and Resident Welfare Associations.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Harsh Malhotra (Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs), Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh (Health Minister of NCT), Shri Parvesh Wahi (Mayor of MCD), Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava (Union Health Secretary), Shri Manoj Kumar Dwivedi (Special Secretary, Urban Development, Government of NCT), and directors of major hospitals including AIIMS New Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Army Hospital, along with representatives from NDMC and senior health officials.