Rain yet to set in, but dengue numbers cross 2018 figures

Even as the State Health Department claims that the dengue outbreak this year is comparatively controlled than last year, the dengue cases in the State have crossed 4,500 mark, recording more number of dengue cases than 2018. Though the cases are seeing a decline currently, at least seven dengue deaths have been recorded in the State.

As per the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, the State recorded a total of 4,486 cases of dengue in the State in 2018. This year, the total number of cases is about 4,500 from January this year to last week, as per State Health Department officials. While the department maintains its record of dengue deaths to be only three, there have been reportedly seven deaths as the death audits remainpending.

There were about 2,500 cases of dengue in the State by September end and within a span of one month, 2,000 more dengue cases have been recorded. The city government hospitals said that the situation is getting better as the number of fever and dengue cases were reducing gradually and there were lesser number of admissions daily than last month.

“The outpatient cases of fever are being attended at fever clinics, but the numbers are reducing. Based on the daily admissions data in the districts with a high incidence of dengue, we are seeing a reduction of about 25 per cent in the total number of cases. However, the control measures such as observing the anti-dengue day on all Thursdays and fever clinics at government hospitals, while fogging and breeding check activities in the localities are being conducted regularly,” said Public Health Director Dr K Kolandaisamy.