Dengue bite gets sharper

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With dengue cases going out of control in districts and the threat looming large in Chennai, the ci­v­ic body on Monday for­med committees, whi­ch in coordination with se­v­eral other departme­nts will ensure that roa­ds and neighbourhoods re­m­ain mosquitoe free.

According to official figures, over 25 patients have been admitted to various government hospitals with symptoms of dengue in the past three days. Apart from this, over 30 children have be­en admitted to the children’s hospital in Egmo­re with fever; doctors, ho­wever, are yet to conf­i­rm the number of deng­ue cases among them.

The city corporation and the public health department, which have faced flak for their failure to curb the incidence of dengue in Chennai, on Monday formed zonal-level coordination committees to control deng­ue. The zonal committees have sought the co-ordination of other government departments like Chennai Metro Wat­er, Tamil Nadu Housing and Slum Clearance Boa­rd, Public Works Depart­ment and Electricity Bo­a­rd to control mosquito breeding across the city.

Explaining the role of 15 coordination committees, Dr C.N. Mahesa­varan, deputy commissioner (Heath) said the civic body was moving towards a dengue free Chennai. So far only the civic body had been carrying out anti mosquito and dengue control measures but from now other government depar­tm­ents and stakeholders would be involved in the anti-dengue drive.

Restaurants, hotels and government buildings are under the scanner to identify mosquito breeding centres and members of self-help groups, residents’ welfare association andanganwadi workers will also be roped in to campaign against dengue, he said. As part of the health ambassador project, corporation school children are periodically trained to create awareness on preventing vector borne diseases. Over 3 lakh awareness cards and 300 CDs on dengue prevention have been circulated in the city to control the virus, the official added.

“The disease is spreading as people are travelling back and forth from the districts. Our main focus is source reduction in the areas that have been identified as hot spots in the state,” said a senior health official.