Dengue testing stepped up in Chennai, over 4,500 cases recorded this year

With dengue cases crossing 4,500 in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) areas, the Health Department has directed that all fever cases be tested, Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, Darez Ahamed, said on Sunday. He added that no dengue deaths had been reported.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting dengue prevention works in the Teynampet Zone, Mr. Ahamed said the State had recorded 20,000 cases so far, and that all fever cases were being tested to identify and manage the disease.

In Chennai, 16,254 tests have been conducted and 4,592 people have been affected by dengue this year. The number of cases recorded in September was 1,293. More than 100 medical camps were being held every day, and 3,703 mosquito eradication workers had been deployed, Mr. Ahamed said.

Mr. Ahamed inspected a medical camp at East Namasivayapuram, and mosquito eradication works, including drone-based larvicide spraying, along the Cooum. He also went door-to-door, distributing awareness pamphlets, on Sunday.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said dengue incidence was gradually declining and that intensive prevention works would continue.

He said that desilting of 44 waterways and drone-based biological solutions were being undertaken.

Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department Darez Ahamed with Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran went door-to-door at 3rd Street, East Namasivayapuram, under Teynampet Zone, inspected the dengue prevention measures, and distributed awareness pamphlets to the people on Sunday (October 4, 2026).
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A total of 1,400 km of the 1,600 km of stormwater drains, identified with blockages, had been desilted, he said. The remaining 200 km would be completed within the week, he added. Chennai has over 3,000 km of stormwater drains, besides 250 km under the Highways Department. Priority works under the Mamallan Reservoir project are planned for completion in October, he said.

Dr. Sameeran said ₹100 crore had been allocated for monsoon precautionary works and there was no shortage of funds for these works.

For long-term capital works, the GCC plans to tap foreign financial assistance schemes, including those of the World Bank and JICA, he said.

The Commissioner further said that fines, totalling ₹7.2 lakh, had been imposed in the past month on commercial establishments, organisations, and houses for failing to remove garbage.