Health minister J.P. Nadda reviews monsoon plan for vector-borne diseases
Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting on Thursday to assess national preparedness against dengue, malaria, and other vector-borne diseases during
Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting on Thursday to assess national preparedness against dengue, malaria, and other vector-borne diseases during the monsoon season, the government said. Nadda emphasized the need for early planning, heightened vigilance, and a proactive public health response to effectively manage and minimize the disease burden during high-transmission months. During the meeting, Nadda reviewed the current epidemiological situation across the country and directed all States and Union Territories to significantly strengthen their localized surveillance systems for the early detection of potential outbreaks. Also Read | Monsoon begins with a 26% deficit To handle any sudden increase in patient workloads, the health minister instructed healthcare facilities to ensure uninterrupted care services by securing adequate stocks of essential medicines, advanced diagnostic kits, blood components, hospital beds, and trained healthcare personnel fully briefed on the latest standard clinical management guidelines.
Notably, the Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, which administers the central program formerly known as the Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, targets a total of six vector-borne diseases nationwide: malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis. Officials at the review meeting were urged to develop district-specific strategies and micro-plans, particularly mapping high-risk hotspots for these six diseases to deploy focused public health interventions like anti-larval measures and regular fogging. The review highlighted India's progress in combating malaria over the past decade, which declined by nearly 80% between 2015 and 2025. According to the health ministry, India successfully exited the World Health Organization's 'High Burden to High Impact' group in 2024 and sustained more than a 70% reduction in both incidence and mortality, keeping the nation on track for global targets.
Furthermore, a total of 160 districts reported zero indigenous cases during the 2022–2025 period, reflecting a sustained interruption of local transmission. Nadda stressed that source reduction, such as clearing stagnant water and maintaining clean surroundings, cannot succeed without active community participation. Local bodies have been advised to coordinate closely with Resident Welfare Associations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and educational institutions to boost preventive actions. According to official tracking data from the Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, the country recorded 255,500 cases of malaria in 2024. These were mostly concentrated in heavy-hit states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, which alone accounted for a major share of the country's total caseload. In 2025, malaria numbers dropped slightly, but other mosquito-borne diseases rose sharply.
The BriefWire