West Bengal Identifies 29 Municipalities, 278 Panchayats As Dengue Hotspots; Cases Cross 5,000

September 14, 2026

Kolkata: With the number of dengue-affected people in West Bengal crossing 5,000 this year so far, the state Health Department has identified 29 municipalities, 85 community development blocks and 278 village panchayats as dengue hotspots.

A State Health Department official said workers are focusing on more intensive and random blood sample testing in these municipalities, blocks and panchayats, as the maximum number of dengue-positive cases reported over the past month have come from these identified hotspots.

How Dengue Hotspots Are Identified

According to the Health Department, a particular formula is being followed to identify dengue hotspots.

A village panchayat with 10 or more dengue patients is classified as a hotspot panchayat. Similarly, a community development block is identified as a hotspot when more than 30 people there have dengue.

A municipality is classified as a hotspot when the majority of its wards have five or more dengue-affected people.

The department is also conducting extensive awareness campaigns in these areas, urging people experiencing dengue-like symptoms, including continuous fever for two or more days, to voluntarily come forward for blood tests.

Health Department Warns Against Self-Medication

The Health Department has expressed particular concern over people with prolonged fever resorting to self-medication instead of consulting medical practitioners.

The department is conducting massive awareness drives urging people to avoid self-medication when fever continues for two or more days and instead visit the nearest health centre for a blood test or consult a medical practitioner.

Health workers are also carrying out door-to-door surveillance as part of dengue prevention efforts.

Residents are being advised to keep household water tanks and cisterns covered. Where proper covers are unavailable, mosquito nets or other nets can be used. People are also being advised to prevent water from accumulating in flowerpots and abandoned containers on rooftops.

Murshidabad Records Highest Dengue Cases

The Health Department is also conducting surveillance in ponds, drains, pools, dry canals, unused wells and factories. Larvicides are being used in accordance with prescribed guidelines.

According to the latest dengue bulletin published by the Health Department on Sunday, 5,002 people had been affected by dengue till September 11.

The sharp rise in cases has raised concern, as the number of dengue-affected people till the same date in August was below 2,500. This means around 2,500 additional people were affected during the past month.

Murshidabad has reported the highest number of dengue-affected people so far, with 1,072 cases, followed by Kolkata with 500 and North 24 Parganas with 450.