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29 July 2026

Dengue virus surveillance study

The ICMR-VRDL study provides critical data on public health surveillance and disease management, which is a recurring theme in GS2 regarding government interventions in the health sector.

1 min read Day 5 of 5 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • ICMR-VRDL network conducted a two-year nationwide surveillance study (2023-2025) on dengue serotypes.
  • Study analyzed 6,889 laboratory-confirmed samples from 45 labs across 25 States and Union Territories.
  • DENV-2 is the predominant serotype, accounting for over 50% of infections.
  • Hyper-endemicity: Eight States/UTs report all four serotypes; 15 report three circulating simultaneously.
  • Concurrent infection: Approximately 7% (one in 14) of patients infected with two or more serotypes simultaneously.
  • Clinical impact: Concurrent infections are associated with higher risks of severe manifestations, including low platelet counts and bleeding complications.
  • Public health implications: Need for continuous molecular surveillance to inform vaccine development and deployment strategies.
  • Vaccination status: No dengue vaccine currently in India's Universal Immunisation Programme; indigenous candidates in advanced development; international vaccine approved for import.

Part of a longer story

This is day 5 of 5 in Approval of Qdenga dengue vaccine in India, which has been running since 21 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the public health implications of the hyper-endemic circulation of multiple dengue virus serotypes in India as highlighted by recent ICMR surveillance. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The emergence of multiple circulating dengue serotypes poses significant challenges for disease management and vaccination strategies in India. Analyze the role of molecular surveillance in strengthening India's public health response to communicable diseases. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Based on the recent ICMR-VRDL surveillance study, which of the following statements regarding dengue in India is correct?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-29/dengue-virus-surveillance-study