Fogging, fever surveys, med check-ups: How Chennai is tackling dengue

Four people have died due to dengue in Chennai while 170 cases were reported in the city as of October. Tackling the menace with the onset of the monsoon is the challenge for the Chennai Corporation.

Speaking to TNM, Madhusudhanan Reddy, the Deputy Commissioner for Health in Chennai Corporation said that the focus is on eliminating the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “Firstly, we are focussing on the removal of sources. We have put our workers to check houses, institutions and areas for freshwater stagnation and probable places which would encourage breeding of dengue-causing mosquitoes,” he said.

The district administration had earlier begun a crackdown on buildings that serve as breeding ground for mosquitoes with, with the Collector warning owners of such properties of fines ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 1 lakh.

According to Madhusudhanan, they have collected around Rs 25 lakh as fine from buildings and institutions for not maintaining proper sanitation in and around it.

“This inspection drive will continue so that people are aware that dengue is caused by unsanitary conditions around the place they dwell,” he said.

Additionally, Madhusudhanan said that they are working on controlling adult mosquitoes, which cause dengue.

“These mosquitoes are morning biters and hence we are working on fogging of the areas, wherever it is possible. For this purpose, we have added 50 more vehicle-mounted fogging machines over and above what we have already. We are keeping track of the localities where the dengue cases have been reported and are doing this.”

To combat the rise in the number of cases, Madhusudhanan said that the Chennai corporation is also conducting fever surveys to identify areas where dengue cases and fever cases have been reported, and to check if the fever is due to dengue.

“Many people don’t recognise the symptoms and keep taking paracetamol to fight the fever. So, we identify such people and ask them to get a blood test done. We are working with the Health Department officials and the PHCs across the city for this. To such areas, as the next step, we are sending mobile medical vans, which gives medicines and conduct check-ups for the people,” he said.