DPH issues guidelines to control dengue cases in Tamil Nadu
As the state is in the middle of transmission season the preventive measure is to be intensified in the early stages.
File photo of a GCC worker fogging in a neighbourhood
CHENNAI: Following the spike in dengue cases in Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine instructed to intensify the preventive measures for vector-borne diseases during the monsoon season for the next two months.
In a letter to deputy directors of health services and corporation health officers, Dr T S Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said, “There has been an increase in the number of dengue cases every year reported from across the state. From September to November when conducive situations foster the proliferation of Adeses mosquito leading to peaking the cases and the unusual rainfall impacts dengue transmission as it is evident from the reports received from many districts.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that during 2023 and 2023, there is a very high probability for increased transmission of dengue and vector-borne diseases due to the El Nino event.
As the state is in the middle of transmission season the preventive measure is to be intensified in the early stages.
Selvavinayagam has instructed the health officials to intensify surveillance, door to door source reduction, deploying adequate domestic breeding checkers in rural and urban areas. “All hospitals need to be alerted for handling any possible outbreak with a contingency plan for management of dengue cases, separate dengue dedicated beds/wards with necessary diagnostics and drugs. Blood banks area to be alerted for keeping adequate blood components and manage if situation urges” noted the letter.
The officials are requested to make necessary arrangements for strengthening the surveillance of dengue and other zoonotic diseases in the state. The directorate of public health has issued weekly priority activities in the districts such as mass source reduction should be carried out in railway yards, railway station premises, and railway quarters in the fourth week of October. “In November, source reduction in public buildings must be done and unwanted materials in vacant places in Chennai Corporation limit to eradicate mosquitoes,” added Selvavinayagam.