By Mallika Bhagat

Copyright timesnownews

Every monsoon, in addition to flooded roads and grounded flights, India braces itself for another enemy that thrives in stagnant water and unclean corners: the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue, a disease carried silently by this mosquito’s bite, has grown into one of the country’s most persistent public health threats. The scale is sobering. According to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, more than 230,000 cases of dengue fever, also known as “breakbone fever” for the painful muscle spasms that often accompany bad cases, were reported in India in 2024, a striking increase on the 157,000 cases reported in 2019. In 2025 too, India recorded spikes during the monsoon and post-monsoon months. Why The Fight Against Dengue Remains ToughDespite decades of awareness drives and mosquito control programmes, dengue continues to flourish. Urban crowding, poor drainage, changing rainfall patterns, and even rising temperatures have made mosquito breeding easier. Traditional fogging and larvicidal measures that cities implement during monsoon months help a little, but their effectiveness is limited if communities are not equally vigilant. The Search For SolutionsIn recent years, India has intensified efforts at multiple levels. Yet the missing piece in the puzzle has always been a reliable vaccine. If reports are to be believed, hope is now on the horizon. Panacea Biotec and ICMR’s indigenous vaccine candidate, DengiAll, has entered Phase 3 clinical trials across 18 states, covering over 10,000 volunteers. These developments may finally offer India the protection it needs, but there remain questions about access, cost and safety across the population. Protection Starts At HomeWhile science works on long-term breakthroughs, everyday prevention is still our strongest shield. This is where household repellents and awareness campaigns step in. Brands like All Out have been strong advocates of mosquito-prevention practices, spreading the message of cleanliness to ensure people stay alert about the everyday steps that can help protect families. Looking AheadAgainst this backdrop, the upcoming Times Now Health Summit will host a dedicated session on “Battling Dengue in India: Crisis, Control & the Promise of a Vaccination,” driven by All Out. From household repellents to awareness campaigns, All Out plays a key role in India’s ongoing fight against dengue outbreaks. The discussion will feature Dr. Sanjeev Bagai Chairman Nephron Clinic Senior Consultant Paediatrician & Nephrologist Padma Shri Awardee; Dr. K. Madan Gopal, Advisor and Head, Public Health Administration, National Health Systems Resource Centre and Dr. Atul Kakar, Chairperson Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The question is no longer whether dengue can be controlled, but how quickly India can harness science and innovation to protect its people.