Over 2,700 cases of dengue have been reported in the country, claiming at least 40 lives, with Delhi and Kerala [Images] accounting for the majority of the patients, it was officially stated on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's [Images] two grandsons -- Rohan (11) and Madhav (17) -- have been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, diagnosed with dengue. A son-in-law of his has also been diagnosed with symptoms of the viral disease.

Besides the 600 patients in the national capital, reports of people being infected by dengue, carried by Aedes mosquito, came in from Kerala (713 cases), Uttar Pradesh (71), Haryana (36), Rajasthan (260), Maharashtra (226), Tamil Nadu (225), Gujarat (201), West Bengal (314), Karnataka (59), Uttaranchal (6) and Bihar (3).

While 15 dengue deaths were reported from Delhi, including four since Tuesday, Rajasthan accounted for six deaths, Kerala, UP and Karnataka four each, West Bengal and Gujarat three each and Haryana one.

Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss, who has convened a meeting of health ministers of the affected states, told reporters that 'there is no need to panic and harbour apprehensions. We have a problem and it is a matter of concern. It is not an epidemic'.

In the national capital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council and other civic bodies were carrying out a major drive to check mosquito breeding, including fumigation at the prime minister's residence.

While giving details of the country-wide spread of dengue, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme director P L Joshi said 11,985 cases of the viral infection were reported last year, taking a toll of 157 lives.

A major outbreak of the disease took place in 1996 while it was again reported in 2003, Joshi said.

Referring to Delhi, Ramadoss said there there is enough blood and platelets to meet the demand. "We need to create mass awareness and for that we need public participation. We have roped in the Indian Medical Association and school children for the purpose," the health minister said.

Maharashtra's assistant director of health services N M Rathi said medical teams had collected blood samples from dengue-affected villages.

They were from areas in Nagpur district, Bhandara, Gondia and East Vidarbha and at least 47 samples had tested positive.

A report from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh quoting the health department said fogging work was going on in dengue-hit areas.

Alarmed by detection of dengue cases in Nalanda district, the Bihar government has decided to provide a treatment protocol to district hospitals, prepared a team of experts and launched a cleanliness and disinfection drive across the state.

A report from Dehra Dun said Uttaranchal authorities were sending blood samples collected from patients in Haldwani for tests to National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Delhi.