Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar on Monday expressed confidence that incidence of dengue would be brought under control within 10 to 15 days.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the dengue awareness programme here, he said the virology tests done on few dengue patients in Dindigul, Kanyakumari and Coimbatore had revealed that they were affected with routine Type-1 virus.
The tests carried out at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai revealed that the patients were affected with Type-1 strain.
It meant that there was no major cause for worry. The results of tests taken from patients in Erode and Namakkal were awaited, he added.
Mr. Vijaya Baskar said instructions have been given to health officials to send test samples of patients in Tiruchi and other areas to King Institute to identify the dengue strain.
Stating that prolonged drought had been posing a challenge in preventing the spread of dengue, he said about 5,000 patients were affected with dengue symptoms in the State.
Almost all of them were responding to treatment.
Mr. Vijaya Baskar said a State-wide campaign had been initiated to create awareness on dengue. More than 35,000 workers, 416 mobile units, 3000 Health Inspectors and 164 entomologists have been roped in. The disease would be controlled within 10 to 15 days, he hoped.
The Minister said the Chief Secretary had given instructions to heads of all government offices to carry out cleaning campaign in their respective offices on every Thursday.
Earlier, Mr. Vijaya Baskar, accompanied by State Ministers Vellamandi N. Natarajan and S. Valarmathi and Collector K. Rajamani, visited K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital and inspected the treatment being given to dengue affected patients.