Tiruvallur records 3rd dengue death, no. of patients doubles in Chennai

Sangeetha (21) a resident of Arumkulum village, who got married recently and has a six-month-old baby, had a fever since Saturday. While she was initially admitted to Tirutanni Government Hospital, Sangeetha was shifted to Tiruvallur Government Hospital and then to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where she died.

A 11-month-old baby, Nishanth from Maruthavallipuram, had died of dengue in the district on October 10. He was suffering from fever for one week and was initially treated at a Primary Health Centre. He was then admitted to Sri Ramachandra Hospital at Porur on Wednesday, where he succumbed on Thursday. On Saturday, a Class 7 student Yogeshwari also died in the district.

Government sources said that at least 12 persons from Tiruvallur district were tested positive for dengue.

Meanwhile, dengue cases continue to spike in Chennai. Compared to 50 to 60 cases at government hospitals in the past month, the city has recorded 120 cases this month. However, the State Health Department said that the situation is under control and preventive measures are in place.

The Institute of Child Health (ICH), that had seen about a hundred fever cases every day in the past month, witnesses around 200 children with fever. While the hospital recorded two dengue deaths in September, it is currently attending to three critical cases.

There are about 30 patients with dengue admitted at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, while 40 other patients are suspected to have dengue. Fever clinics at Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital and Stanley Medical College and Hospital see about 100 fever cases per day. Overall, the State has 2,000 dengue cases recorded till September and about 1,000 more cases were registered this month.

“The diagnosis has increased as more people are able to access 24X7 fever clinics now. After the awareness campaigns and door to door source reduction activities were brought in place, more cases are being registered. But there is no need to panic. The situation remains under control and preventive measures are being taken by the State Health Department,” public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy said.