Trend of morbidity and mortality of dengue in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, South India

Background: Globally, dengue infection is a mosquito borne viral disease accounts for nearly 50 million cases per year. South East Asia (SEA), Western Pacific, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and Latin America are all endemic for frequent outbreaks of dengue fever. The burden of dengue is 17 times higher in SEA countries as compared to Japanese encephalitis, upper respiratory tract infections and Hepatitis B. Thus a study was planned to assess the trend of morbidity and mortality of dengue for the period of five years from 2012 to 2016 in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu (TN), South India. Methods: The data were sourced from National Health Profile 2017, WHO vector borne disease fact sheets and official website of National Vector Borne Disease Control Program. Analysis of secondary data was done and results were tabulated. Graphs were plotted to study the trend of the disease. Results: There is a fall in the morbidity of Dengue cases whereas increase in the mortality over the period of five years (2012-2016) in Puducherry. In TN, there is a decrease in trend of morbidity over the past five years and mortality since 2015. However, there is a rising trend of disease in India. Conclusions: Considering the above facts there is no doubt that dengue is a public health problem in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, which needs urgent action to reduce the burden of dengue.