Andhranews

The ubiquitous mosquito has again challenged the Indian health system, and as usual, the system is writhing under the assault. Why is it that India is always caught off guard when either the domestic mosquito-borne or �imported� epidemics like the Asian �flu or the avian(bird) �flu choose to visit? As many as 13 States are currently in the grip of either dengue fever or chikungunya, with a couple of States having to cope with both simultaneously. The dengue has become more or less a regular visitor, making its presence felt frequently and targeting its victims selectively, and fortunately not the entire country.

This year, it has hit many States. Chikungunya�s incidence, however, has been less regular, but its incidence this year has been reported from more than one State. It has played havoc in Kerala where it has already claimed 80 lives. Of the 2,900 dengue cases reported so far, there have been 43 fatalities, but the number could be more, not less. The Centre has decided not to declare dengue as an epidemic in the hope that the affected States would be able to check its further spread through effective anti-epidemic strategies. Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss has discounted the scope for alarm and panic, but these are apt to be the very response of the lay citizen who learns that the son-in-law and grandsons of the Prime Minister are among the victims.

The national capital has accounted for the largest number of dengue deaths (68), which certainly does not flatter its hygienic and sanitation standards. The less said about the other States the better. Interestingly, the Delhi High Court has sought to know why its earlier directions to take precautions to prevent dengue have not been implemented. The governments and the people will no doubt stoically overcome the challenge as they have all the earlier ones, even if at the cost of many avoidable deaths. But the question why the health system always wakes up belatedly to such challenges is still valid and must be answered.