COIMBATORE: With the death of a seven-year-old girl at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Friday due to dengue, the authorities have opened a special ward exclusively to treat dengue and other fever cases.
The deceased was identified as Bhuvaneshwari, from Karumathampatty, who was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the total dengue cases reported at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital rose to 13 and five were discharged after being cured. At present seven patients, two children and five adults, have been undergoing treatment for dengue at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and their condition is not critical, informed the dean of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Dr A Edwin Joe.
With the onset of monsoon as many as 26 fever cases were also reported at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
“We have opened a special ward to attend to fever cases and a nodal officer to look after the ward will also be posted soon,” said Dean, Edwin Joe.
The Public Health Department has started taking preventive measures to curb the spread of dengue.
“Prevention is better than cure; so the department has been educating the public on measures to be taken to avoid the spread of dengue. We have already conducted a meeting with heads of town panchayats, villages, etc, in the presence of the District Collector. Directions have also been given to school heads to make student aware of the measures,” said Somasundaram, deputy director of the Public Health Department.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus which is transmitted to people by infected Aedes albopictus mosquito. Aedes albopictus becomes infected when it bites a person who happens to be carrier of the dengue virus and after about eight to 12 days can transmit the virus while biting a healthy person.
The Aedes albopictus can lay eggs in small containers such as tree holes, bamboo ends, cans, discarded tyres, and rock pools holding small amount of water.
“The most effective way to prevent dengue is to stop the breeding of the mosquitoes. This can be achieved by eliminating the breeding grounds by keeping the surroundings clean,” added Somasundaram further.