Vector-borne diseases in Tamil Nadu dip this year

According to data provided by Tamil Nadu to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme for National Centre for Disease Control, a total of 253 cases of swine flu were reported till August this year.

In 2019, 1,038 cases were reported, including four deaths. Swine flu cases usually surge only in June every year but this year this trend wasn’t observed.

This year, 211 cases of malaria were reported in TN till August, which is less than half the number of cases reported in 2019 when there were around 500 cases till August. By the end of the year, 2,088 cases of malaria were detected in 2019.

With about 8,527 cases, the dengue outbreak led to five deaths in 2019. However, the number of cases in Tamil Nadu stood at 1,709 until August this year. By the end of August itself, 2,500 cases of dengue were reported in 2019. Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases also remained low with 66 and 400 cases respectively, which is a 20% decline from last year.

Public health experts said that maintaining hygiene and other preventive measures for COVID-19 has helped in keeping away cases of vector borne diseases. Former director of Public Health Dr K Kolandaisamy said that prioritising cleanliness and hygiene in view of coronavirus has helped in reducing the cases of mosquito borne diseases and influenza. “However, the State needs to track vector borne diseases simultaneously to prevent any sudden spike or outbreak,” said Dr Kolandaisamy.