‘Storing water may pose dengue threat’

The number of cases in the state has risen drastically this year in comparison to 2016. As the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme statistics show that seven out of every 10 dengue cases reported in the country were from Tamil Nadu and Kerala - with one death reported from Kadayanallur in 2017 - the health department is taking no chances. 

Stating that Tamil Nadu had seen 2,531 dengue cases in 2016 and has until now recorded 3,259 this year, Dr Kolandaisamy, Director, Department of Public Health, said, “Due to water shortage this year, many are found to be storing water, which is good breeding ground for the Aedes mosquitos.” 

While creating awareness on mosquito borne diseases, health officials are ensuring that plastic containers, tyres and other sources for breeding are not left lying around. “We have instructed the local administration, town panchayat, rural and municipal administration to focus on the removal of unused containers, broken plastics and other containers, tyres and coconut shells in which rain water can collect and the Aedes mosquito can breed,” he said. 

“As the fever season has started, we can see a lot of cases in the neighbouring states, particularly Kerala. Therefore, we have mapped out all the high-risk areas and are carrying out activities to check its breeding there,” he added. 

The health department has also taken up dengue control measures like source reduction and are undertaking a process of door to door education. 

“We have recorded cases from Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palani, Theni, Tenkasi, Sankarankoil, Kadayanallur, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari and are giving high priority there, mainly because the rains are there in the Western Ghats. We have also been undertaking water chlorination in these areas,” said a source from the department. 

While the situation is under control in cities like Chennai, the possibility of the fever spreading from the neighbouring districts like Gummidipundi and Tiruttani, where there can be an outbreak, is there. Stating that it is essential to make the public aware about the disease, Dr V Mani, said, “Irrespective of whether fever cases are reported or not from a particular place, awareness on the mosquito must continue.” 

The state is also said to be holding informative coordination meetings with Kerala in order to build a relationship with the state and thereby, be able to better identify the problems on both sides. Similar initiatives are also taken with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.     

Efforts are also on to educate school children, ICDS workers and women SHGs, while hospitals are being instructed to give proper protocol based treatment.  

“We have been instructed not to discharge patients diagnosed with fever until after two days when it subsidies. Also, if the case is diagnosed as dengue, further investigations should be conducted,” said a doctor from the RGGGH.