Chennai in denial mode over dengue

Chennai: The Chennai Corporation claims there is no dengue in city limits. However, incidence of the viral fever in Mylapore is seen to be increasing as cases are being reported every day. In interactions with this people as DC reporters visited areas around the city, a common complaint heard was about the inadequacy of the anti-mosquito drive in Mylapore, Saidapet and several other parts of south Chennai.

Pictures taken by DC photographer in a government aided hospital confirms a rise in dengue cases, but Corporation officials deny it. According to sources, in the past ten days more than 18 dengue positive cases had been reported in Chennai at various government hospitals, including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Three children from south Chennai were admitted to a government aided hospital last week and were discharged after a few days. Abraham street and Naatu Veerachi street have also seen dengue cases.

The state health minister C. Vijaybhaskar subtly admitted last week in the Assembly that so far five dengue deaths had been recorded in the state with 2,335 cases (mostly from southern districts) and assured adequate medical and anti dengue measures, but city health officials are in denial mode. After preliminary visits, Corporation officials fail to intensify anti dengue measures, alleged civic activist D. Mani.

Furthermore, there are no quality tests and analysis on drugs like Pyrethrum extract used for fogging and mosquito larvicide used along storm water drains and canals, he alleged. There is no reply to RTI petitions and queries in this regard and the Corporation fails to share the data on mosquito density tests done periodically, he alleged. Meanwhile local Corporation staff remained tight lipped maintaining the data is confidential and only to be shared with Corporation headquarters.

“What can I do, dengue has come, but allegations that the civic body is not taking steps are not true. People with dengue were admitted last week and discharged. There is nothing to worry about”, said Corporation ward (125) Councillor R Bhommi.

“There were intensive fumigations in our locality last week and the spraying of larvicide along drains and fumigations have reduced mosquito breeding as is evident in our area,” K. Venugopal, a resident of Mylapore, said.

Corporation insiders admitted that there are more than 15 per cent vacancies in the public health department and the scenario is even worse in extended areas added to the Corporation.

Further, mega public health camps usually conducted during monsoon and epidemic outbreaks are no longer held due to the extra workload vested with the health department including monitoring of waste management.

Efforts to contact Chennai Corporation city health officer Dr. N. A. Senthil Nathan for his comment proved futile. Meanwhile, Pallavaram municipality on Monday intensified the dengue awareness programme and is on a door-to-door campaign interacting with residents.

Doctor's opinion
“Chennai is relatively safe when compared with other metros like Delhi and Mumbai. And across the country dengue figures have gone up, so there is no need to hush up and my friends with private hospitals admit that they are terrorised by public health department if they reveal any mortality due to communicable diseases", said a medical officer associated with Kilpauk Government Hospital. He added that there has to be more screening of transit passengers. Further, acute dengue fever can be fatal for kids and school children. Schools and educational institutions should be targeted to reduce the incidence of mosquito breeding, the doctor added.

What biologist's say
“The prey- predator relationship between the mosquitoes and their predators has been thrown off the balance in most of the cities and mosquito population will certainly increase," said conservationist scientist Dr K. Brinda, scientist, Biodiversity Conservation Foundation. Small terrestrial birds, fish like Gambussia, turtle, dragon flies and damselflies all feed on mosquito larvae, but most of these insect predators have been wiped out to a large extent from the ecosystem and the mosquitoes are on a free breeding spree. By restoring the natural ecosystem the breeding places of mosquitoes can be arrested, she opined.