Though virus-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya had plagued the city over the past few years, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, it seems, is yet to learn from its previous failures. This was evident when it came to light that the KMC is yet to start a proper surveillance on diseases like dengue and chikungunya though viral fever has already gripped the city. Experts claim that though the virus which is circulating in the city these days is a common type of influenza virus, a proper surveillance is required to prevent dengue or chikungunya virus from spreading rampantly in Kolkata. "If proper surveillance is not done in the initial stages, dengue or chikungunya could go undetected especially when a common influenza virus is in circulation,' said an expert of the Indian Council of Medical Research's city based virus unit. However, KMC officials said it was not their job to keep a tab on dengue and chikungunya. "The state health department usually informs us of the diseases. But we are carrying out awareness campaigns among city dwellers to keep dengue and chikungunya away from the city. We are requesting people to visit our malaria clinics to get their blood examined if one suffers from a fever,' said Dr Deb Dwaipayan Chatterjee, the CMHO, KMC. But the state health department made it clear that it is the duty of the KMC to keep a surveillance on dengue and chikungunya. "The KMC keeps a tab on these virus-borne diseases under a Central government project known as Integrated Disease Surveillance Project. The KMC is supposed to send us a copy of the report regularly. It is yet to hold a meeting with us in this regard this year,' said an official of the state health department.