Ramadoss to meet health ministers of dengue-hit states on Oct 5

Even as the reported number of dengue cases in Delhi and other parts of the country like Pune crossed 500, Union minister for health & family welfare Anbumani Ramadoss has allayed fears saying that the situation is under control.

The minister will meet the health ministers of four states, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, on October 5 to discuss the containment of the disease.

The capital has reported a total of 497 dengue cases and another 30 have been reported from Pune, triggering fear of a national epidemic. Spread through mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, dengue fever causes headache, high fever and other flu-like symptoms. It can even lead to brain haemorrhage causing death.

"It is not an epidemic. It is not sufficient to look at one month's data alone. Comparisons need to be drawn on the basis of last five years' statistics. Delhi reported roughly 3,000 cases in 2003, while 1,000 in 2004," said B L Joshi, programme director in the ministry of health & family welfare for dengue.

Ramadoss said his ministry was already providing medication to all affected states.