The dengue outbreak in Kolkata is not an epidemic, officials said on Tuesday.

At least 18 people have died and about 1,900 are suffering from dengue across West Bengal, with the worst outbreak being reported from the capital Kolkata.

"Dengue detection is being properly carried out in Kolkata, which is why the number of cases seems high. But there is no need to panic. Dengue is completely under control in the city," state Urban and Municipal Affairs Minister Asok Bhattacharya was quoted as saying on Monday on The Telegraph newspaper website.

Dengue fever and how to avoid it

On Tuesday, Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said the outbreak "had not assumed epidemic proportions," according to the Press Trust of India.

The dengue outbreak comes as the northern state of Uttar Pradesh battles the mosquito-borne Japanese Encephalitis that has killed more than 670 people since mid-summer.

Symptoms of dengue include high fever, joint pain, headache and vomiting.

Kolkata, a city of 14.3 million people, is one of the 10 most populated cities in the world.

Dengue fever and how to avoid it