TN intensifies vector control programme

As this comes in the backdrop of an alarming number of deaths in Bihar, the State Health Department is intensifying the vector control programme.

Till April, there have been more than 230 cases of Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome recorded in the State. The dreaded acute encephalitis syndrome, also called ‘chamki fever’, has caused led to more than 100 deaths in Bihar in past few weeks along.

Last year, there were more than 1,200 cases and 5 deaths were recorded due to encephalitis in Tamil Nadu.

“This is no epidemic situation in the State currently. The number of cases of vector-borne diseases are considerably reducing in Coimbatore,Kanniyakumari and the delta regions. However, the State Health Department is on alert in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts where more number of cases are being recorded currently,” said Public Health Director Dr K Kolandaisamy.

In addition to the encephalitis cases, other vector-borne have also shown an upward trend – dengue cases have crossed 950 till May, while around 400 malaria cases have been recordedtill April.

There were about 700 dengue cases till April 5, which went up to 951 by May 26. Despite assurance from the Health Department that it would undertake measure to prevent and control vector-borne diseases, the cases have spiked in last two months in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul and Salem districts.

From a slide examination of 25 lakh samples, the officials here have recorded 400 malaria cases till April. This is feared to go up after the rains commence. According to officials, the prevailing water crisis is likely to prove dangerous, just like it led to a dengue outbreak it in 2017.

“The number of cases of vector-borne diseases are likely to rise after the rains, as people collect rainwater, which leads to breeding of mosquitoes. We are continuouslymonitoring the cases and the control measures are in place,” added Dr K Kolandaisamy.