Child dies of dengue, two more due to fever

Toll 40 till October 9, 11,744 cases recorded; CM holds review meeting; cleaning drive for next three weeks.
Dengue (AP file Image for representation )
Dengue (AP file Image for representation )

CHENNAI: Even as Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami reviewed the state of affairs and directed officials to undertake dengue control measures on a war footing, yet another dengue death and two more due to fever were reported here on Wednesday.

There were 40 dengue deaths in the State till October 9, according to a report submitted by the Public Health Department to the chief minister on Wednesday.

Sachin (9) from Pulianthope was referred to the Institute of Child Health from a private hospital with fever three days ago. “He had dengue and died of liver failure and haemorrhagic shock on Wednesday,” said a senior doctor at the hospital.

In another case, Lalith Kishore (9) from Minjur, who was admitted to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital on Tuesday noon, succumbed to fever just eight hours after admission, said hospital sources. The boy had fever for about three days, following which he was admitted at Government Hospital at Minjur from where he was shifted to Stanley hospital. However, rapid test for dengue returned negative, said Ponnambalam Namasivayam, dean of the hospital.

Boopathi (20), a college student, from Thirunindravur who died at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, was the third fever fatality during the day. “The student was referred here for brain fever from a private hospital,” a doctor at the hospital said.

These deaths came on a day the chief minister held review meeting with ministers, chief secretary and other senior officials, and Public Health Department officials. Palaniswami directed that senior officials be deputed as dengue control monitoring officers in each district.

“For the next three weeks, public and private premises across the State will be cleaned on a war footing. An intensive drive will be carried out. Senior secretaries have been deputed in each district as monitoring officers. The entire machinery has been put on dengue control measure activities,” said K Kolandaswamy, Director of public health.

There has been an alarming spike in the number of dengue cases. Till Tuesday, 11,744 dengue cases have been recorded. According to Kolandaswamy, more number of cases are seen in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchee-puram, Thanjavur, Madurai, Salem and Namakkal districts. “We are focusing on these districts as high priority areas, as cases are still reported there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Municipal Administration, Rural Development and Special Scheme Implementation S P Velumani issued an advisory on Wednesday to various departments to prevent the spread of dengue and communicable diseases.  

He said 1,40,000 health workers were involved in preventing spread of the disease. He added that open water sources and empty lands should be periodically chlorinated and kept clean of sewage and waste. Water should not be allowed to stagnate.

Health advisory

Minister S P Velumani issued an advisory on Wednesday, stating that 1,40,000 health workers were involved in preventing spread of dengue. The advisory said the amount of chlorine in clean water should be 0.2 ppm to curb breeding of mosquitoes and open water sources should be periodically chlorinated and kept clean of sewage and waste.

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