Dengue and malaria cases on the decline in TN

With an increased prevalence among children below 14 years, the dengue outbreak was reported in districts, including Tirunelveli, Madurai, Theni and Virudhunagar, with the highest number of about 60 cases reported in Madurai so far. A few parts of Chennai, Toothukudi, Kanniyakumari and Ramanathapuram reported cases of Malaria

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TN recorded 3,762 cases of Malaria last year, while 3,636 cases and 15 deaths of dengue were reported in 2018. After an initial increase in the number of cases of dengue, there has been a decrease with city hospitals seeing only one or two fever cases every week since last month. However, health experts said that vector-borne diseases are likely to go up in the month of July and August following the monsoon.

“After a survey on the entomological incidence of dengue and other vector-borne diseases by the State Health Department, the health workers were engaged in regular spraying and fogging activities to prevent mosquito-borne diseases in all the districts. As the survey and laboratory tests on the collected samples had revealed the presence of Aedes mosquito, district healthcare workers investigated the reported cases and took control measures,” said Public Health Director, Dr K Kolandaisamy.

“The cases of Malaria have decreased over the years in Tamil Nadu. As per the national strategy to eradicate Malaria by 2030, we are planning to stay ahead of the plan and eliminate the disease by 2023,” Kolandaisamy added.