Dengue on the decline, health dept on its toes

While awareness programmes for the public continues, the Corporation also held a mass programme on Wednesday at the High Court complex, creating awareness among the judges, on the importance of adhering to the instructions given by the Health Department on the need to check dengue. The awareness initiative was also taken to the homes of Ministers.

While the number of dengue cases are reportedly declining in the state, the government has not given up its efforts in ensuring it does not return. “During the outbreak, many were frightened of the disease. However, there were many others who failed to take our advice seriously. Now, as the cases have been reducing, the factors to be followed must not be forgotten. As the rain spells are back, it is important for the public to focus on preventing the collection of rain water, by ridding their premises of all containers where the mosquitoes can breed,” stated Dr K Kolandaisamy, Director, Department of Public Health.

“At such a time as this, the possibility of people developing water-borne diseases is high. We are therefore conducting awareness campaigns and distributing pamphlets, stressing on the need for the public to drink boiled water and avoid water from untrustworthy places to prevent e coli, diarrhoea and the like,” said Dr Senthil Nathan, City Health Officer.

Government hospitals have not been seeing many fever cases. However, they continue to remain prepared. “We have around 60 fever cases in our hospital at present, as compared to the over 300 cases we were seeing a few months back. Also, there are barely five dengue cases in our hospital, which is an improvement. However, we are prepared for whatever may come,” said Dr Narayana Babu, Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.