Tankers carrying non-chlorinated water to be penalised

Chennai

As per the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of the National Centre for Disease Control, the number of outbreaks across the State in past two months has been minimal except for some acute diarrhoeal diseases.

Officials from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said certain infections like typhoid, dengue, cholera and fever clusters are likely to rise due to water-borne diseases, and the Health Department has instructed Collectors to check chlorination levels in the drinking water.

Speaking after inaugurating medical camp at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said 435 mobile units were sent across the State to check different types of fevers and 9,573 medical camps have been conducted to test the public for these infections. So far, 2,27,082 persons have been tested and follow-up treatment was provided through medical camps throughout Tamil Nadu, he added.

Stressing the significance of chlorination of drinking water, the Minister said the civic authorities have conducted chlorination check of drinking water at 23,952 sites. He added that the water lorries carrying non-chlorinated water would be penalised, as the private water suppliers might not comply with the regulations.

People shifted to relief camps due to the cyclone, who are in need of treatment and testing, were also being taken to nearby government hospitals. Till now, 38,837 persons from relief camps have been tested for water-borne diseases. Also, swab samples have been taken to test for COVID-19. Other activities such as fogging and cleanliness awareness are also being conducted, he said.