Chennai Corporation organises fever clinics to identify ILI cases

Chennai

Nearly 400 persons with influenza-like illness were identified during day 1, of whom more than half are from Royapuram – the zone that has the most number of positive cases.

On Sunday, 203 fever camps were organised at 14 of the 15 Corporation zones – except Alandur – which screened 10,541 people. Of them, 392 persons were identified with influenza-like-illness. Most number of people screened at Royapuram zone – 3,048 – of whom, 199 had ILI. “Samples from the 392 identified with ILI were collected and will be tested for the virus. Camps will be conducted across the city shifting the location every day to test a wider population,” an official said.

On Monday, the civic body conducted 483 fever clinics, in which thousands of residents participated. “At the fever clinic camps, the doctors will check the symptoms and distribute tablets and medicines to the persons with mild symptoms. Tests will be conducted on persons with severe symptoms. We are also distributing zinc tablets and multivitamin tablets,” the official added. However, residents alleged that the civic body was providing zinc tablets and multivitamin tablets only to those with cold or cough.

“The Corporation should test the samples of all residents who have availed government health insurance. On Sunday, when I asked for zinc and vitamin tablets, they only gave Kabasura Kudineer and said that tablets were meant only for those with symptoms,” said GM Shankar, a resident of Madipakkam. The fever clinics are run by unit health officers and division health officers.