Question : Vector Borne Diseases

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether cases of Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and other Vector Borne Diseases are on the rise in the country over the last few years, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) the details of the number of cases and deaths reported in the country during the last three years and the current year State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to develop any medicines under various system of medicines in the country and surveillance mechanism to check the cases of such diseases;

(d) if so, the details thereof and progress made in this regard; and


(e) the details of other corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken and funds allocated by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): Vector borne diseases (VBD) are overall showing a declining trend over the last few years. However, the cases of Dengue, Chikungunya have increased in the last few years. This is due to involvement of newer districts and better diagnostic surveillance with establishment of sentinel laboratories across the country. The detailed State-wise situation of various vector borne diseases is given in Annexure I to VI with the reported number of cases and deaths.

(c) & (d): Development of medicines to check on vector borne diseases is a continuing process.

Action taken by the Government to combat vector borne diseases through AYUSH system of medicines is as follows.
• Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences(CCRAS) has developed AYUSH-64 for Malaria through systematic pre- clinical & clinical studies and commercialized.

• AYUSH-PJ7 for Dengue: the pre-clinical, quality assurance and safety studies have been completed while a double blind randomized clinical study has been initiated in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research which is actively under progress.

• AYUSH-SL is coded drug for Filariasis- the pre-clinical, quality assurance and safety studies have been completed.

Other steps taken are as under:-

i. Treatment study for dengue in Delhi; preventive study for chikungunya; preventive, pre-clinical and treatment study for Japanese encephalitis and Malaria and multi-centric study for filarisis by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)
ii. Clinical studies on vector borne diseases namely, malaria, filariasis and kala-azar; validation of efficacy of unani formulations in such disease conditions.
iii. Prospective case control study in dengue with Nilavembu kudineer; in vitro/in vivo evaluation of theraupic potential of various Siddha drugs on H1N1 infection/chikungunya virus infection.






(e): The following is the general strategy for control of all six Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) under NVBDCP:
• Early diagnosis and complete treatment (No specific drugs against Dengue, Chikungunya and J.E.)
• Integrated vector Management ( Indoor Residual Spray (IRS), Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN), larvivorous fish, chemical and bio-larvicide, source reduction)
• Supportive intervention – (Vaccination only against J.E.)
• Annual MDA using DEC and Albendazole for elimination of Lymphatic Filaria.
• IEC/ Behaviour change communication

The funds allocated by the Government in this regard are at Annexure VII.