Over 27,000 tested for mpox in TN airports so far: Minister

TIRUCHY: More than 27,000 passengers, who arrived at different airports across the State, were screened for mpox to date and there have been no cases, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian, here on Tuesday.

Talking to newspersons, he said that as a precautionary measure special wards have been established in all the four districts, which have international airports.

Ma Subramanian accompanied by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Tiruchy Collector Pradeep Kumar inspected the isolation facility and thermal screening facility for international passengers at the Tiruchy International Airport.

Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Subramanian said that the latest equipment was being used for the screening process in airports at Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore.

“As many as 64 international flight services are handled by the State every day. Around 27,000 passengers are subjected to screening for mpox each day,” the Minister conveyed.

‘Ready to handle increasing dengue cases in State’

Regarding the spurt in dengue cases in the State, the Minister said that the numbers had crossed 11,000 in the past eight months, but only four fatalities have been reported.

“The number of cases is expected to increase during the upcoming monsoon season and as part of preventive measures, officials from public health and municipal administration departments have been given necessary instructions to tackle the situation,” he said.

He also inaugurated several completed projects in Thanjavur including new buildings in Kumbakonam and Ammapettai Government Hospitals, saying that the Chief Minister

MK Stalin announced establishing 708 Urban PHCs across the State among which as many as 500 have been inaugurated and the remaining UPHCs would be opened soon.

He said that as many as 14 types of cardiac drugs, which would help in early intervention or as first aid, are available in all the UPHCs, PHCs and health sub-centres across the State.