Govt to organise fever camps across TN as Influenza cases rise

CHENNAI: As the Influenza cases rise, the State Health Department has planned to organise fever camps across the State until the monsoon season gets over in Tamil Nadu.

The department will hold special fever camps at 1,000 locations across Tamil Nadu, including 100 places in Chennai, on Wednesday.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian along with Health Secretary P Senthilkumar will be inspecting the camps on Wednesday. At least 1,166 cases of AH1N1 flu have been recorded in the State until Tuesday since January, with 122 cases being reported in the last two days. There are 371 active cases in the State currently.

A total of 388 mobile health units, and other primary health centres and sub-health centers are made ready to attend to the patients who are suffering from fever. People with symptoms of fever, cold and cough can visit these camps for consultation, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Tuesday.

He said that 486 healthcare professionals are being deployed at the mobile camps and 665 health camps are already functioning in the State. After 1,000 fever camps on Wednesday, similar fever camps will be conducted at three locations in each area on a regular basis. “The districts that see an increase in the cases, more camps will be conducted," he added.

The Health Minister on Tuesday said that it is common to witness the surge in the cases of fever and flu to up to 50 per cent more than usual after the rains. There are at least 46 children below the age of five years who are affected by the flu, and 11 people are affected in the age group of 5-14 years and 194 people are taking treatment in the age group of 15-65 years and at least 71 people are in the age group of 66-95 years in Tamil Nadu.

"At least 15 people are admitted to government hospitals, while 260 people are being treated in private hospitals and 96 are in home isolation. All the patients are stable and 10 deaths have been reported in the State since January. Most of the cases are being managed for the fever for the first three days and then in home isolation," the Health Minister said.

Responding to the queries on the need to close down the schools, he said that children should not be sent to school if they have symptoms. Moreover, health experts have been consulted and they did not express the need to close the schools.