This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/5401710.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
India to hold dengue crisis talks India calls for calm over dengue
(about 9 hours later)
The Indian government is due to hold an emergency meeting to discuss an outbreak of dengue fever in the north of the country , officials say. The Indian government has appealed for calm as it tries to contain an outbreak of dengue fever in the country's north.
On Monday health officials launched a massive drive to contain an outbreak of dengue fever in the capital, Delhi. Federal Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss urged people not to panic, saying the situation was under control.
Thousands of workers fanned out across the city spraying pesticides as part of a door-to-door campaign. He was speaking after talks in the capital, Delhi, where 14 of 28 recent dengue deaths have occurred. Nearly 500 cases of dengue have been reported.
Dengue fever can lead to headaches, high fever and other flu-like symptoms, and even to brain haemorrhage. Sixteen new cases were announced in Delhi on Tuesday, a day after a massive drive to contain dengue was launched.
Stagnant water It's not an epidemic - what we need is awareness, not a panicky situation Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss
Correspondents say that 14 people in northern India have been killed by the illness - carried by mosquitoes - in the past six weeks. Dengue fever - carried by mosquitoes - can lead to headaches, high fever and other flu-like symptoms, and even to brain haemorrhage.
Newspaper reports in India say that Tuesday's high-level meeting of health officials will "review" the situation. Meanwhile, the southern state of Kerala is battling a massive outbreak of another mosquito-borne infection - chikungunya disease.
Up to 20,000 people are affected in the worst-hit district of the state, authorities say.
'No epidemic'
Of particular concern in the dengue outbreak has been the fact that India's leading state hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, was found to be a central breeding ground for mosquitoes.
There are no preventive vaccines available for dengue fever
More than 30 people have been affected by dengue, including 18 medical staff. One doctor has died.
But Mr Ramadoss denied the dengue outbreak amounted to an epidemic.
"There is no need to panic," he told reporters in the capital. "That is the most important information I want to give to the general public.
"The total number of cases we have recorded so far is about 497 and we will get an update on the figures by the municipal corporation by evening."
As well as the deaths in Delhi, Rajasthan state has confirmed seven deaths, Uttar Pradesh four, and Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana one each in recent weeks.
Mr Ramadoss called a meeting of health officials from all affected states on Thursday for a detailed assessment of the situation.
Counter measures
Mosquito-bred diseases such as dengue and malaria commonly develop in the monsoon season in India - the mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
Mosquitoes are blamed for spreading the diseaseMosquitoes are blamed for spreading the disease
Delhi health administrators are also set to meet on Tuesday after the country's leading state hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, was found to be a central breeding ground for mosquitoes. With no preventive vaccines available for dengue fever, the authorities are concentrating on cleaning up affected areas before the situation gets out of hand.
More than 30 people have been affected by the disease, including 18 medical staff. One doctor has died. The state government in Rajasthan has announced free tests for dengue and increased vigilance. Health authorities in Punjab and Haryana issued fresh instructions on mosquito-control and pre-stocking of medicines and intravenous fluids in all hospitals.
Correspondents say that mosquito-bred diseases such as dengue and malaria commonly develop in the monsoon season in India - the mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Blood banks have also been told to replenish their stocks through more donation camps.
With no preventive vaccines available for dengue fever, the authorities are concentrating on cleaning up the city before things get out of hand. Teams of health workers have fanned out across affected states to carry out regular checks. Thousands of workers began spraying pesticides as part of a door-to-door campaign in Delhi on Monday.
"Since October and November are [the] most dangerous months for breeding of mosquitoes we have appealed to citizens to be on alert," Mr Yadav said.