Civic body gets cracking on dengue awareness
With panic over dengue spreading to the city from the southern districts, Chennai corporation as part of its preventive measures has planned to distribute pamphlets in schools and create awareness on the causes of dengue and methods of prevention.
It has also announced a toll free helpline to keep the public informed about prevention of dengue, malaria and chikungunya.
Corporation health officials who kickstarted the fogging exercises in the city last week said was important for people to maintain proper hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to prevent the spread of dengue.
Dengue is caused by mosquitoes that breed in stagnated water, unused tyres, plastic items that gather dust and flower pots.
“If people are suffering from high fever, joint pain and body ache, they should immediately approach a doctor.
For further details about dengue or malaria, public can reach us on helpline 1913,” said health officer P. Kuganantham.
Health inspectors in all the districts have been instructed to conduct surveillance and go door to door and interact with people.
If anyone shows signs of dengue, their blood samples will be collected and sent to labs for testing and treatment will be initiated at government hospitals for those who test positive.
“We mostly focus on source reduction and conduct fogging exercises regularly to eradicate mosquito breeding.
We also educate school children about harmful effects of an adult mosquito’s bite and stress on the need to keep their surroundings clean,” said a senior health official.
Health minister holds review meet on dengue
With dengue fear looming large on people’s minds, health minister V.S. Vijay on Friday held a review meet at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here with top brass of health department, district collector, principals of medical colleges, municipal commissioners to take stock of the preventive and control measures.
Mr Vijay said 1,159 persons have been diagnosed with fever, 11 of whom tested positive for dengue and one of them died. In Tirunelveli, the death toll was 27.
He said preventive measures are being undertaken on a war footing and requested the media to avoid portraying fever cases as dengue.
The meeting was attended by collector Anshul Mishra, health officials of Madurai,Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram, apart from DME Dr C Vamsadhara and DPH Dr Porkai Pandian, Dr Edwin Joe, dean, GRH, municipal commissioners of these districts, Madurai mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa and minister Sellur Raju, MLA A.K. Bose and town panchayat officials.
A senior official who attended the meeting said the minister stressed not to wait for microbiological tests to confirm dengue cases and begin treatment even on the slightest hint of dengue symptoms.
He said lack of seriousness among private hospitals leads to delay in treatment.
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