West Bengal has approved Rs 1.2 crore for dengue-control work after the state recorded around 7,320 cases this year, including approximately 2,600 in the past two weeks, prompting a multi-department review at Nabanna.
The meeting, held on Monday, brought together the chief secretary and representatives from 16 departments, including the health department, civic bodies and police. Officials discussed measures to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds in clusters reporting higher numbers of dengue cases, increase testing and speed up the release of test reports.
Of the cases reported across the state, around 624 have been recorded in Kolkata. The city reported 662 cases during the same period last year, according to figures cited in the report. The state’s current hospital load is estimated at around 260 dengue patients being treated across different hospitals.
A health department source said the government wanted to strengthen vector-control measures, expand testing and increase hospital preparedness if required. The source also cautioned that dengue transmission could continue until November, making the coming weeks important for municipal cleanup and surveillance operations.
The decision places renewed focus on the relationship between disease control and everyday urban management. Mosquito breeding can increase in stagnant water accumulated in construction sites, vacant plots, blocked drains, discarded containers and other areas where water remains undisturbed. The meeting’s emphasis on cluster-based action indicates that authorities intend to direct cleanup efforts towards locations reporting higher case numbers rather than rely only on citywide drives.
The state’s response will also depend on how quickly suspected cases are tested and reports are returned. Faster reporting can help health officials and civic agencies identify localised increases, organise breeding-ground inspections and prepare hospitals for additional admissions. The involvement of police and multiple departments suggests that the government is seeking coordination beyond the health system alone.
Microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri said dengue cases generally occur until November and that it was too early to predict the season’s trajectory. He also pointed to the importance of avoiding water stagnation over the next two months. The government’s approved allocation is expected to support the control measures discussed during the Nabanna review, while hospitals and civic agencies continue monitoring cases across the state.
