Dengue outbreak: EPS takes a dig at TN govt

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has strongly criticized the DMK government for what he perceives as a failure to take adequate precautionary measures to prevent the spread of dengue fever, also known as blue fever, ahead of the rainy season. In a statement on Monday, Palaniswami called on the government to swiftly conduct fever camps across the state to address the rising number of dengue cases. Palaniswami pointed out a significant increase in dengue cases, citing specific instances such as 13 reported cases in the Madurai Corporation limit on a single day. The reported cases included alarming instances like a one-year-old child and two small boys testing positive for dengue in Madurai City limit. The former Chief Minister emphasized that there has been an overall surge in dengue cases in Madurai district, with a staggering 67 cases reported on a single day. Attributing the rise in dengue cases to the alleged failure of the government to conduct timely fever camps, Palaniswami stated that hundreds of individuals have fallen ill with dengue in the last 30 days in the state. Expressing disappointment, he noted that despite his previous warnings and calls for precautionary measures, the Tamil Nadu government has not taken adequate steps to curb the spread of viral and dengue fever. Taking a swipe at State Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Palaniswami accused him of conducting fever camps merely for a couple of days in a symbolic manner before returning to his routine of hosting marathons. This criticism raises concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing the health crisis and ensuring the well-being of the public.