CM Edappadi K Palaniswami holds emergency meet as dengue, fever cases shoot up

CHENNAI: An emergency meeting was called by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday as  Tamil Nadu has recorded as many as 10,000 cases of fever. Every Thursday will be observed as anti-dengue day from now, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar announced on Monday. The dengue case count has been on the rise since 2012. The prevalance of the disease has been high, particularly in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Salem, Tiruchy and Coimbatore, a statement by the chief minister said on Monday.“The total number of fever cases in the State has risen to over 10,000 in this year according to the fever surveillance report sourced from both private and government hospitals,” said C Vijaya Basker, adding that 23 people had died from the diease. 

Health secretary J Radhakrishnan added that 28 new cases have been recorded in Chennai alone and there are 700 cases across Tamil Nadu.“A person suffering from other health conditions could suffer from dengue shock once contracted. They may be counted under dengue deaths,” he said, adding that a person diagnosed with dengue must be under the supervision of a doctor for five days.To curb further spread, Palaniswami convened an emergency meeting with the health minister, the health secretary and other senior officials, at his residence on Greenways Road on Monday.

To stop its spread immediately, the government has decided to engage in emergency prevention programmes, including fumigation of schools, water bodies and other high-risk places. “With interdepartmental co-ordiantion, we will deploy fogging machines in all government schools and public places. We have also decided to distribute free potions of ‘nilavembu kashayam’ in public places for five days a week from Tuesday,” Vijaya Basker said, adding that every Thursday would be ‘anti-dengue day’ by all government offices. All government offices will help spread awareness about the fever. Treatment will be free in all government hospitals.

Dengue panic mounts, two more deaths in Salem, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam, Salem: A 25-year old woman admitted with dengue symptoms to Karaikal Government Hospital died on Monday. Sources said that this was the third dengue death in two months in the Tharangambadi taluk. In Salem, a nine-year-old girl from Kalarampatti died at Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (SGMKMCH) on Monday. The Salem City Municipal Corporation (SCMC) has bought 36 new fogging machines at `23.40 lakh to curb the breeding of mosquitoes.

40% dengue cases at Puducherry GH from TN, says Narayanasamy
Puducherry: Dengue outbreak is under control in the UT, said Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday.  He along with Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and MLA K Lakshminarayanan visited the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate Institute. “Around 150 persons are being treated and over 40 per cent of them are from Cuddalore, Villuppuram and Tiruvannamalai,’’ he said. On Kiran Bedi’s claim of that cases increased up to 700 per cent here, he said those who made claims should verify the credibility.