All efforts are taken to prevent dengue and other diseases: Tamil Nadu health minister

CHENNAI: Multiple departments are working to prevent vector and water borne diseases in Tamil Nadu, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday.

The state has reported three deaths and 4,227 new cases of dengue so far this year. Over the last 15 days, more than 100 cases of dengue have been registered and 343 patients are under treatment.

“In 2021 and 2022 we recorded around eight deaths and 6,000 cases of the viral infection. We expect cases to touch 6,000 this year too. But all precautions are taken to ensure deaths are brought down,” he said after inaugurating an awareness campaign in Chennai’s Besant Nagar on preventive methods for monsoon ailments.

He said a total fine of around Rs 15 lakh had been collected by the Greater Chennai Corporation from places identified as "breeding sources of disease-causing mosquitoes" over the last two months.

These include 71 commercial buildings, 682 under construction buildings and others such as workplaces, educational institutions and residential complexes. Similar efforts have been made by corporations and local bodies across the state, besides creating awareness.

These breeding sources increase risk of vector borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya during monsoon, he said.

On Thursday, health workers told residents in Besant Nagar to keep drinking water cans and drums closed to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. They also distributed pamphlets to create awareness about breeding sources of dengue mosquitoes.