Allaying apprehensions over the surge in dengue cases in Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine on Wednesday (September 17, 2026) said the spread of dengue this year was neither unusual nor alarming, and urged the public not to panic.
The Directorate issued a statement to allay apprehensions among the public that dengue fever cases have increased significantly in the State during the current year. The DPH noted that usually, breeding of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue increased during the monsoon. In particular, conditions conducive for increased mosquito breeding may occur from October to December, and hence, dengue cases were being continuously monitored, while preventive and control measures were intensified. Officers were deployed across the State to coordinate dengue prevention and control measures. Fever wards were established to monitor patients with fever and to provide timely treatment. Triaging was undertaken to assess the health condition of patients and provide appropriate treatment on a priority basis based on the severity of the illness. If symptoms such as fever occur, they should approach the nearest primary health centre or government hospital to seek medical advice and appropriate treatment without delay.
Every year, seasonal variations in dengue cases occur naturally during the monsoon due to changes in climatic conditions. However, as per the official data put out by the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, there were a total of 27,378 dengue cases in the State in 2024.
It said that this year, the spread of dengue was neither unusual nor occurring at an alarming level. It said that dengue transmission can be controlled more effectively if the public extends cooperation for the preventive measures undertaken by the government.
