Chennai: With the State witnessing a sudden increase in dengue and swine flu cases, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar today flagged off 82 special mobile healthcare units to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.
Sources said a 2.5-year-old boy died in the city due to dengue. It is also reported that six patients diagnosed with dengue and seven with swine flu are being treated at Madurai Government Hospital, in addition to 99 patients detected with viral fever.
Multi-dimensional activities and inter-departmental coordination between the State Department of Health and local bodies to create awareness and steps to ensure availability of blood, blood cells, medicines, instruments to detect are being done at all public health centres and government hospitals across the State.
The number of centres to diagnose dengue through ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) has been increased to 125 from 31.
Directions have been issued to all the pharmacies by the government to not issue tablets without valid prescriptions and people are being educated on the negative aspects of taking self-medication for generic symptoms.
To cure the fever naturally, nilavembu kashayam, papaya leaf juice and malaivembu ilai saaru are being distributed in all public health centres and government hospitals.
Rapid response teams have been deployed in all district-level government hospitals. If any district reports more than three fever cases, the team would immediately assess the reasons and treat the patients. Special camps are being conducted to screen people showing signs and symptoms of dengue fever.
Around 20,000 field workers to eradicate mosquito breeding spots are deployed across Tamilnadu. Around 11,634 fogging machines, 92,134 litres of pyrethrum, 38,010 litres of technical malathion and 78,541 litres of temefos have been acquired to carry out fogging.
Addressing reporters at Tamilnadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital here today, the Health Minister said, “Stringent action will be taken if houses and office complexes are found to have materials that can act as breeding ground for mosquitoes. Every Thursday has been marked to observe ‘Dengue Prevention Day’ in public places, schools and hospitals throughout the State.”
“Infants and children should be given treatment within five to seven days of diagnosis of dengue,” he added.
Further, as per G.O. 1811, all the districts have been directed to report on the fever cases and field work carried out to prevent dengue.
To prevent the H1N1 virus from spreading and causing swine flu, the patients are being admitted to the isolation ward, Tamiflu tablets are being stacked and general awareness is being created among people.
24×7 CONTROL ROOM
The Public Health Department has introduced 24×7 control room to immediately report cases of fever. The helplines are: 044 2435 0496, 044 2433 4811, 94443 40496 and 87544 48477.
Photo: B Anand