India is in the grip of a severe spell of communicable diseases, with over 270 people having died of malaria and 15 of dengue. Chikungunya cases have also increased over last year's figures, according to local newspaper the Hindu Tuesday.

Most of the malaria deaths have been reported from the endemic tribal belts in India's central and eastern states.

The number of dengue cases has crossed the 12,000-mark this year with 15 deaths, as against 69 deaths but only 5,534 confirmed cases last year, officials said. Till Monday, 69,952 chikungunya cases have been reported, up from 59,535 in 2007.

India's government said it is prepared to deal with any adverse situation.

"We have revamped our Vector Borne Diseases Control Program and are focusing on endemic districts. The budgetary allocation for dealing with these diseases has also been enhanced," Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said.

The government was running campaigns to improve awareness among the people of such diseases, particularly in rural areas.

"However, problems still exist. Changing weather pattern and heavy rains do result in breeding of mosquitoes, and unhygienic sanitation conditions still prevail," the Minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2008)