CHENNAI: On a day when a multi-disciplinary team sent by the Union government began its visit to assess dengue’s grip in Tamil Nadu, the State government sought Rs 256 crore from the Centre for the mitigation drive.
Members of the team told reporters here that there are a few areas Tamil Nadu must focus on. “There is no doubt Tamil Nadu is taking effective measures to contain dengue, but there are a few areas that Tamil Nadu need to focus on. There are more than 12,000 cases and 40 deaths recorded in Tamil Nadu,” said Dr Ashutosh Biswas, professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS, one of the members.
He said the dengue breakout is being reported across the country after a gap of four years and it has to be studied if it was really a case of not be able to control it or better reporting of the cases.
After a high-level meeting with health department officials and visit of two hospitals here, three members of the team headed to Salem while two others will leave for Kancheepuram on Saturday.
Even as the team was in the city, two children, aged 7 and 11, succumbed to dengue on Friday. In what could be a matter of relief for patients, the health department submitted in the Madras High Court that treatment for dengue patients at the ICUs in government hospitals was covered under the CM’s health insurance scheme.
The team members said they will analyse if the high number of deaths are due to delayed referral from private hospitals or delay in access to treatment. It will later submit a report to the Union government.
Dr Kalpana Baruah, Joint Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, said dengue control is not the responsibility of the government alone.
“Every household should make sure there is no pure water storage around their house. Eradicating the breeding source is the key to control dengue. So, community participation is must,” she added.
The Central team said unlike other infectious diseases dengue is not a serious disease as it’s self-limiting. Deaths happen when the treatment is delayed in severe dengue.
No to Nilavenbu
When asked about the Tamil Nadu government’s recommendation of Nilavembu Kudineer, a herbal decoction, Dr Ashutosh Biswas, professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS said “his team will not recommend it to the wide community as there are no big scientific studies done to prove its efficacy.”