State intensifies preventive steps after reports of 1,700 dengue cases

The authorities are working to prevent and control dengue cases by ensuring frequent mosquito breeding checks and effective management of the cases.

With more than 1,700 cases of dengue reported across the State, the Health department has intensified prevention and control measures against mosquito breeding. Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said that 1.41 lakh healthcare personnel are engaged in dengue prevention, domestic breeding checks and fogging activities.

The State Health Department will rope in healthcare staff, self-help groups and school students to distribute pamphlets on awareness against mosquito-borne diseases and their prevention. The Health Minister also stressed on the need to prevent dengue deaths due to late referrals and said that the public should immediately approach government hospitals in case of fever as late referrals are the major cause of dengue deaths. Pharmacies and medical clinics should refrain from selling over-the-counter drugs as they can be life-threatening.

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department had collected more than Rs 16.50 Lakh as penalty from building owners who failed to remove unwanted items that are breeding source for mosquitoes across the state,in August.

Of the total penalty collected, Rs 5.44 lakh was collected by the Greater Chennai Corporation. As many as 14 city Corporations, excluding Chennai, and 121 municipalities had collected a fine of Rs 11.07 lakh.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation has identified 14,13,771 domestic areas, 12,096 vacant plots, 6,917 locked houses and 7,722 construction sites in the city, which pose higher threat of mosquito breeding, and conducted cleaning work.

“The Corporation has been segregated into 2,056 blocks, in which 3,346 workers are employed to find mosquito breeding sources and control mosquito menace. The civic body also conducted 131 medical camps and in the last two days and Nilavembu drink was given to 549 schools in the city,” SP Velumani, Minister, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, said.

The Minister also instructed the field workers and private hospitals to report to civic bodies and public health department if they come across patients affected with viral fevers. “The Minister distributed ‘health ambassadors’ identity cards to students studying in Corporation schools. The students will participate in dengue awareness campaigns along with the Corporation employees,” a Chennai Corporation statement said.