Over 35 thousand dengue cases have been reported in the country so far and 216 people have lost their lives. This information was given by minister of state for Health, Abu Hasem khan Choudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. On steps taken by the government to control its spread, he said, a mid-term plan approved by the Committee of Secretaries is being implemented across the country for prevention and control of dengue. On strategy to diagnose dengue in its primary stage, Mr Choudhary said, Centre has established sentinel surveillance centres at 347 hospitals with laboratory support and linked these with 14 Apex Referral Laboratories with advanced diagnostic facilities for back up support.