Takeda joins hands with Karnataka leaders to call for Year-Round Dengue Preparedness

As climate change, rapid urbanisation and shifting rainfall patterns continue to reshape dengue transmission across India, public health leaders, policymakers, scientists and civil society convened for "From Awareness to Action: Advancing Dengue Prevention in Karnataka."

The multi-stakeholder dialogue culminated in the endorsement of a 4-Point Call-to-Action aimed at transitioning the state from seasonal outbreak response to continuous, year-round dengue preparedness.

The high-level forum was organised with participation from Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India; U.T. Khader Fareed, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka and Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education and Literacy, Government of Karnataka, alongside more than 20 state government representatives, leading public health institutions, researchers, innovators, academia and civil society organisations.

U.T. Khader Fareed, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka said, "Karnataka's recent decline in dengue cases is encouraging, but it is not a signal to become complacent. The environmental conditions that drive dengue transmission continue to evolve, and future outbreaks remain a real possibility. Our next step is to strengthen how we predict, prevent and manage dengue by exploring new innovations in surveillance, diagnostics, vector monitoring, vaccination and community-based prevention. As scientific understanding advances, Karnataka will continue to evaluate emerging innovations and adopt approaches that are proven to be safe, effective and beneficial for our communities."

Public health experts from ARTPARK, Institute of Health Management & Research, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, and leading epidemiologists highlighted that dengue remains a complex and evolving public health challenge. While vector control remains essential, experts noted that sustainable control requires a broader and more integrated strategy.

Building on the discussions, participants identified 4-Point Call to Action, that could help strengthen Karnataka’s dengue preparedness:

• Making dengue prevention year-round: Transitioning from monsoon-focused crisis response to continuous, 365-day engagement by integrating behaviour change communication (BCC) across schools, workplaces, and communities; prioritising positive incentives ahead of penalties.
• Closing the loop of care: Linking community-level screening directly to rapid diagnosis, timely primary healthcare referral, and structured follow-up.
• Making data work: Harmonising state and municipal surveillance data, strengthening ward-level analytics, enabling citizen reporting, and ensuring transparent treatment costs.
• Backing innovation: Funding locally adaptable, youth-driven solutions and tech-enabled vector monitoring through pilot initiatives across Bengaluru and Karnataka.