Amid claims of dengue deaths in Puducherry and Karaikal regions, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services had denied deaths due to dengue. There has been no dengue deaths in Puducherry, except the death of an eight-year-old girl in January last. Although several cases have been reported, the patients are being taken care of and cured, clarified Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr K V Raman.
More than 50 cases of dengue have been reported for the current month and special wards both for male and female have been built in Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Post Graduate institute (IGGGH&PGI) and other hospitals including Government General Hospital in Karaikal, said Dr Raman. Moreover, the hospitals have been stocked with supporting fluids to prevent dehydration and vitamins to enhance immunity and blood platelets are provided during blood transfusions.
Anti-dengue measures have been taken since July. The doctors serving in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been trained and the paramedical staff were sensitised on how to treat fever cases and perform the blood test to check dengue. Health assistants in their areas were advised to find the source of dengue infection in the area of the affected.
Since the Aedes mosquito causing dengue could fly a few metres , around 500 metre area was searched for clearing the source of dengue. He further informed that any water stored in artificial containers for 8 days or more could be a source of dengue, he said.
Further preventive measures are being taken by the government. Around 1500 SHGs would be given training on Tuesday and would be involved in locating such Aedes mosquito breeding source and clean it. They would also be involved in educating the people on prevention measures, said Dr Raman.
