Claiming that “misinformation” was floating around on dengue, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that there was “just” 30 deaths arising out of dengue over the last seven-to-eight months.

The death, she said, was “much lower” than in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and even the BJP-run Uttar Pradesh.

Banerjee claimed that in Lucknow city alone, there were 141 deaths; while in Tamil Nadu there are 40 between July and September. Kerala reported 35 deaths over the last three-to-four months; and Delhi fared relatively better with 21 deaths during this period.

Incidentally, this is the first time that the state government has come on record with any figures pertaining to the vector-borne disease. The move, sources say, has been prompted by recent reports that claimed there has been an “alarming increase” in dengue incidents across pockets of the State – more so in Kolkata, suburbs and adjoining districts like North 24 Parganas.

While the Chief Minister and the State government have been quick to counter reports on increase in dengue incidents, number of people affected with dengue across the State remain unclear.

Local civic bodies like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Bidhannagar Municipality have refused to share numbers on those affected by the disease.

“The state government will hold a monitoring meeting on dengue on a fortnightly basis,” the Chief Minister said without giving details.

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