CHENNAI: Six-year-old twins died of dengue fever in the early hours on Monday in the city. With these deaths, the dengue toll this month has touched five, as per official records. Besides, four people succumbed to swine flu this month in the state, forcing officials to issue a public advisory on precautionary measures.
The twins — Dhakshan and Deeksha —, residents of West Thanikachalam Street in Kolathur, were said to be having a fever for about a week and taking treatment in a local private hospital. They were admitted to the Institute of Child Health, Egmore only on Saturday after they contracted the high fever. But the condition of the children deteriorated. Deeksha died a little past midnight and Dhaskshan a few hours later. “Their blood samples test showed positive for dengue virus,” Dr A T Arasar Seeralar, Director and Superintendent, ICH, told Express.
The Corporation and health officials said they took precautionary measures in the Kolathur locality after the deaths. Health secretary J Radhakrishnan told reporters, “This month five confirmed cases of dengue deaths are recorded in the state. Also, 11 people died of swine flu this year and four of the deaths are in October.”
In Chennai, the health officials identified Korattur, Madhavaram, Shollinganallur and Mylapore as the areas from where the most number of fever cases are being reported. “Cases are being reported from other districts like Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and other areas. We are taking all measures,” he said.
Radhakrishnan also appealed to people to not take fever cases lightly. “Only one per cent of dengue cases go for dengue syndrome shock or dengue complications that lead to death, and the rest are curable if the patients are taken to hospital early. Same with swine flu also,” he said. He further said that on an average, per day across the state there were 5-20 confirmed category ‘C’ swine flu cases and 25-50 confirmed dengue cases.
The Directorate of Public Health has also issued over 1,000 notices to owners of construction sites and industries for not keeping their campus clean.“Last year, water storage practice was a problem. This year stagnation of rainwater in terraces, vacant plots, and also overhead tanks is a problem. We are also planning to engage residents welfare associations to sensitise people to how to keep their surroundings clean as dengue-causing aedes mosquitoes breed on stagnated rainwater in coconut shells, unused containers, tyres, plastic covers etc.”
The government is also holding meetings with various associations including Indian Medical Association to raise awareness of the management and prevention of dengue cases. Since there are swine flu cases in bordering states such as Karnataka and Andhra, the Health officials are screening people coming from these states.
A few measures advised by the Health Department are a good hand hygiene to combat swine flu. “Frequent hand wash and disinfection activity in public places and other crowded places are also encouraged. Old people, pregnant women, asthma patients and paediatric cases are high-risk groups,” Radhakrishnan added.