In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury said 216 deaths had taken place due to dengue till November 15 this year, against 169 during 2011 and 110 in 2010.
Choudhury said the number of reported cases of dengue till November 15 this year has almost doubled to 35,066 against 18,860 cases reported during 2011.
60 deaths have taken place in Tamil Nadu this year, closely followed by 59 in Maharashtra. Tamil Nadu has also reported the maximum of 9,249 dengue cases, followed by West Bengal with 6,067 cases.
The minister said that in view of an upsurge of dengue cases, the government has prepared a mid-term plan approved by the Committee of Secretaries covering various aspects for prevention and control of dengue and chikungunya in the country.
He said that for augmenting the diagnosis, 347 sentinel surveillance facilities have been established in hospitals across states with laboratory support for augmentation of diagnostic facility.
Besides, he said, steps have also been taken to control malaria after 309 deaths and 7.37 lakh cases were reported during the current year till November 2 this year, against 753 deaths and 1.31 lakh cases in 2011.