A Parliamentary report recommends a region-specific, climate-smart and technology-driven strategy to control vector-borne diseases in North-East India.
- 29 recommendations target North-East India’s VBD burden
- AI, GIS and climate data could enable early outbreak alerts
- Better vaccines, diagnostics, surveillance and trained staff are needed
India continues to face a significant burden of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare has identified the North-Eastern Region (NER) as requiring a particularly region-specific and integrated strategy, given its distinctive ecology, climate, geography, tribal populations, migration patterns and healthcare-access challenges (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Press Release On The 175th , 176th And 177th Report Of Parliamentary Standing Committee On Health & Family Welfare
).
The Committee has made 29 recommendations, covering surveillance, vector control, vaccination, diagnostics, human resources, research, digital health, One Health, cross-border cooperation and climate-based disease prediction.
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1. Why the North-East Requires a Different Strategy
The Committee rejects a uniform national approach to VBD control for the NER. The disease burden is influenced by:
- Hot and humid climatic conditions
- Abundant water bodies
- Deforestation and shifting cultivation
- Unplanned urbanisation
- Multiple mosquito species and insecticide resistance
- Pig and bird populations acting as disease amplifiers
- Tribal and geographically dispersed populations
- Internal and cross-border migration
- Limited healthcare access
- Asymptomatic disease reservoirs
- Poor waste management
- Shortages of trained personnel
- Gaps in vaccination and diagnostics
- Fragmented surveillance systems
The Committee therefore recommends region-specific action plans with micro-level sub-plans, rather than a single national template.
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2. Integrated Vector Management Needs to be Strengthened
The Committee considers Integrated Vector Management (IVM) as the cornerstone of VBD control but also believes that India’s existing approach needs to be substantially revamped. The commitee recommends integrating:
- Environmental management
- Larval control
- Biological control
- Insecticide-based interventions
- Next-generation long-lasting insecticidal nets
- Community participation
- Digital surveillance
- Interdisciplinary research
- Capacity building
- Focused interventions for high-risk populations
The Committee also notes that conventional approaches such as breeding-site elimination and fogging have had limited effects in some settings, while biological approaches such as larvivorous fish and sterile insect techniques could offer longer-term benefits.
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3. Vaccination: Major Gaps Remain
The Committee notes that internationally vaccines are available for diseases including yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, chikungunya, dengue and malaria, while India currently provides Japanese encephalitis vaccination through the Universal Immunization Programme.
It recommends:
- Greater international collaboration
- Faster indigenous vaccine development
- Clinical-trial networks for dengue and chikungunya vaccines
- Expanded JE immunisation
- Exploration of mRNA and viral-vector technologies
- Innovative delivery approaches such as microneedles and nasal sprays
- Improved cold-chain outreach
The report also recommends accelerated incorporation of Qdenga, the dengue vaccine, into the Universal Immunization Programme, following its reported regulatory approval and anticipated commercial availability in India.
4. Diagnostics and Treatment Need Strengthening
Inadequate laboratory capacity in several parts of the North-East is also a main hindrance in achieveing VBD control.
It recommends:
- Expansion of the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory network
- Multiplex diagnostic platforms
- Point-of-care tests suitable for low-resource settings
- Faster confirmation of VBD cases
- Disease-specific treatment protocols
- Standard Treatment Protocols for complicated dengue
- Research into emerging and previously unidentified vector-borne diseases
5. Surveillance Must Become Real-Time and Predictive
One of the strongest themes of the report is the need to move from reactive surveillance to predictive surveillance.
The Committee recommends:
- Real-time technology-driven disease surveillance
- GIS-based hotspot mapping
- Digital reporting
- A dedicated North-East VBD portal
- Mobile applications for citizen reporting
- AI-powered early-warning systems
- Machine learning for vector-image recognition
- Integration of weather, climate and epidemiological data
The Committee specifically recommends combining IMD weather forecasts, satellite/GIS mapping and vector surveillance to generate district-level early-warning alerts before outbreaks occur.
6. Human Resources are a Major Bottleneck
Vacant posts and shortages of skilled entomologists are identified as important operational gaps.
The Committee recommends:
- Fast-track recruitment of qualified entomologists
- Regular certification and capacity-building programmes
- A North-Eastern Regional Entomology Training Hub
- Strengthening district laboratories
- Refresher training for health workers
- Development of a cadre-based entomology system
7. One Health and Cross-Border Cooperation
The Committee places considerable emphasis on the One Health approach, linking human health, veterinary health, environmental surveillance and vector control.
The Committee places considerable emphasis on the One Health approach, linking human health, veterinary health, environmental surveillance and vector control.
It recommends:
- A National One Health platform for VBDs
- Integration of ICMR, ICAR, veterinary departments and state agencies
- Genomic surveillance of vectors and pathogens
- Cross-border surveillance with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar
- Harmonised outbreak reporting
- District-to-district information sharing
- Joint surveillance mechanisms
8. Financing and Infrastructure
A dedicated VBD window under NESIDS to finance infrastructure in high-burden areas, including:
- Diagnostics
- Climate-resilient water management
- Vector-proof housing
- Other VBD-related infrastructure
The 175th Report represents a shift from fragmented vector control towards a data-driven, climate-aware, technology-enabled and community-led approach.
Reference:
- Press Release On The 175th , 176th And 177th Report Of Parliamentary Standing Committee On Health & Family Welfare – (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2296281®=48&lang=2)
Source-Medindia