Rising dengue cases call for enhanced public sanitation and waste management systems

Dengue is again a major public health concern. The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control reported nearly 95,000 cases in the country between January and July 31. Ground-level reports suggest a spike in numbers following waterlogging in parts of the country after excessive rains. A vaccine for dengue is in the works. While it may help mitigate its severity, the vaccine will, however, do little to tackle the virus and the disease-transmitting mosquito.

The upsurge is not limited to India. There has been a rise in cases in northern-eastern Africa, West Asia, and South and Southeast Asia. Global warming has favoured the breeding of the carrier Aedes aegypti mosquito. The most effective measure to tackle dengue and other vector-borne diseases is improving public sanitation and waste management.

Improved waste management will require local governments to step up collection and disposal, as well as putting in place sewage treatment infrastructure to ensure that water bodies are not used for disposal. But improving the cleanliness of habitations, towns and cities is not just the government's responsibility. As individuals and communities, people need to do their part to keep our surroundings clean.


This includes changing the way we, as citizens, produce and dispose of waste. Doing our part to keep our public spaces clean must be more than an hour of 'shramdaan' on one demarcated day, it must be a habit.

Cleaner spaces can significantly reduce the breeding grounds for carriers of vector diseases like dengue. As the impacts of climate change become more evident, such vector-borne diseases will rise. Vaccines and therapeutics will help. But the benefits that will accrue from clean cities and public spaces are far too great to ignore.