PIL reveals 15 dengue deaths in 8 months in eight districts of Tamil Nadu

The State government has said 47 patients succumbed to virus-related fevers, including dengue, in Tamil Nadu, from January to August.
Representational image
Representational image

MADURAI: In an action taken report submitted to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on the measures undertaken to control viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, the State government has said 47 patients succumbed to virus-related fevers, including dengue, in Tamil Nadu, from January to August.

Responding to a public interest litigation petition which sought to control breeding of mosquitoes that lead to viral fever,  Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan filed a counter-affidavit stating that in the past eight months, 47 persons died due to viral fever, including dengue, throughout the Tamil Nadu.

The Secretary submitted that nearly 15 persons died due to Dengue in eight districts -  Tirupur, Erode, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tiruchy, Dharmapuri, Namakkal and Karur. Tirupur recorded the highest number of four dengue deaths as on date and 32 succumbed to viral fevers.

He also submitted that various control measures were being carried out regularly to prevent vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya. He also said there was no death due to chikungunya in the State.

Rapid Response Teams had been formed in all districts and control measures were taken on a war-footing and Indian system of drugs such as Nilavembu Kudineer, Papaya leaf extract and Malaivembu leaf extract were distributed throughout the State, in addition to increasing the dengue ELISA diagnosing facility from 31 centres to 90 centres, the Secretary said.

A Bench comprising Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan adjourned the case to September 4 for orders. Earlier, one K K Ramesh from Madurai filed a PIL praying the court for a directive to the authorities to control mosquito-borne diseases.

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