Pre-monsoon anti-dengue operations gain momentum in districts

With the influx of dengue patients steadily going up in all government and private hospitals in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts and with the Northeast Monsoon likely to start in mid-October, operations to contain the spread of the vector-borne disease by the local bodies have gained momentum.

Doctors in private, government and Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital admit significant rise in the influx of dengue patients in the past 45 days. The arrival of dengue cases is expected to increase further after the onset of Northeast monsoon in mid-October as the stagnant rainwater can provide the right breeding ground for Aedes aegypti mosquito spreading dengue.

Sensing the threat in store, the Tirunelveli Corporation has mobilised its men and material to accelerate anti-dengue operations. Corporation officials can be seen visiting the houses, construction sites and other places where discarded old articles have been stored to look for mosquito breeding grounds.

According to Tirunelveli Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana, instructions have been given to the Corporation authorities to intensify the anti-dengue drive as the Northeast Monsoon was fast approaching. Residents of Tirunelveli Corporation, hospitals, marriage halls, schools, colleges, commercial establishments, restaurants, hotels, government buildings etc. should maintain their premises clean without giving any room for mosquito breeding.

Besides disposing the waste after segregating it at source to the visiting sanitary workers, the residents should ensure clean environment around their houses.

“The Corporation officials have been instructed to visit the areas where waterlogging is reported. Since the stagnant water can provide ample breeding ground for mosquitoes spreading this vector-borne disease, the officials have been instructed to take immediate steps to drain water stagnating in private vacant plots or lands through the owners. If the owners fail to drain the stagnant water, we’ll slap fine on them,” Dr. Monika warned.

The Commissioner informed that a fine of ₹5,000 was imposed on a hotel after mosquito larva breeding ground was found in the water tank of the hotel.

“We’ve started fogging operations after recent isolated rainfall in the city. It will be stepped-up further in the days to come,” she added.

When the Corporation officials, during their inspection at Tilak Nagar on Madurai on Wednesday, found Aedes aegypti larvae in the stagnant water in a vacant plot and the water tank of a private building where a hospital workers staying, fine of ₹3,000 each was imposed.

Tenkasi Collector Ranjeet Singh inspects a college hostel campus as part of a dengue prevention drive.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

In Tenkasi district, the local bodies have been instructed to carry-out door-to-door inspection and fogging operations to destroy the mosquitoes spreading dengue.

“The primary health centres and the government hospitals have been instructed to create special ward for dengue patients and hospital authorities told to check the platelet count of the fever patients so as to start early the right line of treatment. The number of fever cases coming to the hospitals should be reported to the district administration everyday. If the arrival of fever cases from a particular area increases, appropriate anti-dengue operations will be taken up in the locality immediately,” District Collector Ranjeet Singh said.

As three suspected dengue deaths, including two from the Boganallur Sri Lankan refugee camp, were reported in Kadayanallur area within the past four weeks while the health department officials refuse it stoutly, anti-dengue operations in this area have been intensified. A special medical camp was organised in Boganallur refugee camp.