Two dengue cases in Mambalam put civic body on alert

CHENNAI: Two dengue cases have been reported in Chennai this week putting Greater Chennai Corporation on high alert.

After the second case detected in West Mambalam, workers were deployed to carry out cleanliness and source reduction activities in the neighbourhood on a war-footing.

Sources said the first case in West Mambalam was detected earlier this week when a person from Kerala returned to the city and got high fever. He tested positive for dengue at a primary health centre run by the civic body.

On Friday, a 45-year-old man from the same locality in West Mambalam tested positive for dengue after being admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical College.

Following this, conservancy workers, a sanitary inspector and the zonal health officer visited the street where the dengue cases were reported. "Tyres, coconut shells, plastic containers, and other items capable of holding rainwater were destroyed," said a worker. Stagnant fresh water is the source of dengue-causing aedes mosquitoes.

Balu, a resident, said while conservancy workers are expected to work every other day, they turn up only once in three days. "Today the workers came and cleared all the garbage lying in several spots. All tubs and buckets holding water where mosquitoes had started to breed were removed. Why do officials have to wait for a dengue case to be reported instead of taking preventive action," he asked. Balu said spraying of larvicide and fogging should be carried out at least four times a month.

A health official from the zone confirmed the dengue case and said preventive measures were being taken across the zone.

"The Kodambakkam zone is divided into 151 sectors. All health workers and sanitary inspectors are instructed to carry out source reduction activities in at least 80 houses. Work to prevent water stagnation and spraying of mosquito larvicidal oil is happening across the zone," said the official.