West Bengal has reported 4,035 dengue cases by August 19, with seven deaths officially attributed to the disease. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held a meeting on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) evening and tried to allay fears regarding the outbreak of the vector-borne disease.

“Last year, it was 7,600-plus. This year, it is 4,000-plus,” the Chief Minister said, attributing the decline in cases to the awareness among the people.

Representatives of 21 different Municipalities including Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and State’s Health Department were present at the meeting. The State government identified five most dengue-prone districts in West Bengal — Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad.

At least 148 people have been admitted in hospitals with the viral infection, and family members of those hospitalised have been kept under watch. The Chief Minister urged authorities to keep the situation under watch till the month of November.

Mr. Adhikari also said that the State government will not hide figures of dengue and urged medical practitioners to mention dengue fever in prescriptions if the patients are infected with the vector-borne disease.

“We are asking them [doctors] not to hide anything. What is there to hide? If there is dengue, it will definitely be dealt with. There is no reason to be afraid when doctors write dengue. If it is dengue, they will write dengue. If not, they will not write,” the Chief Minister said. There have been allegations of the figures of dengue outbreak being suppressed during Trinamool Congress regime.

Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul had said that West Bengal has so far recorded 15% less dengue cases than during the corresponding period last year, as of August 16. The Minister warned that continued rainfall could create fresh mosquito-breeding sites. Kolkata and its adjoining areas have been receiving heavy rainfall over the past few days.