1,700 dengue cases reported in TN till August

The number of dengue cases has been on the rise in all government hospitals in the city. But, the numbers are lesser compared to the dengue outbreak in 2018. Tamil Nadu recorded 13 deaths and 4,486 cases in 2018, as per the data with National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme.

A rising trend of cases has also been witnessed at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Institute of Child Health (ICH) and Stanley Medical College, However, hospital authorities say that the situation remains in control.

“There are 40 cases of fever being treated at the hospital, while there have been 6 confirmed cases of dengue currently. There are 3 to 4 cases of dengue being consulted every day, but all the patients are stable,” said Dr R Jayanthi, the dean of RGGGH.

Medical experts said that late referrals usually lead to complications in the patients, hence people need to be cautious. “The number of cases of fever is more than the number of dengue cases,” said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, KMC. “While there are two or three cases of dengue being reported every day, 29 cases of fever are registered with the hospital. The number of such cases increased last week after the rains.”

Hospital authorities at Stanley Medical College and Tamil Nadu Multi Super Speciality Hospital said that there have been suspected cases of dengue and at least 20 cases of fever being witnessed every day at both the hospitals.

“The cases are being treated symptomatically and the hospitals are also equipped to provide for blood components. Mosquito breeding have been kept in check in collaboration with the district officers,” said Director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy.

“We are also imposing a fine on the domestic and commercial spaces behind mosquito breeding. The dengue cases now are much lower as compared to last year and we are taking preventive measures to reduce it,” he added.