Chennai: Dengue deaths continue to rise

Chennai/Tiruchy: Dengue deaths and the fear of epidemics continued to sweep across the state on Friday. Tension prevailed in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Dindigul and Karur where suspected dengue deaths were reported from government hospitals. Traffic between Tiruchy and Karur was blocked by Manavasi villagers alleging poor treatment leading to the death of 5-year-old Pooja.

Police said the girl was suffering from the mysterious fever for the last one week and after taking treatment at government hospitals at Kovakulam and Karur, she was referred to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government hospital Tiruchy, where she died without responding to treatment. Similarly, G. Tamilarasi a 10-year-old girl of suburb Rayanur also died, due to suspected dengue fever in government hospital on Thursday night.

In north Chennai, tension prevailed at Korrukupet after parents and relatives of a seven-month-old Maria Nikitha who died at Stanley Government Hospital alleged that the infant died due to dengue and medical negligence. "I lost my daughter due to poor treatment and I was completely kept in the dark. The doctors said that my child was suffering symptoms of dengue, but the death certificate read fever", fumed father Nicobar fighting tears.

Commenting about the dengue deaths, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss urged the state to admit the incidence of dengue so that the public will be prepared to handle the epidemic. Even a developed country like Singapore has reported nine dengue deaths last year and this is a fact that has to be accepted. "And I don't know what the Centre is doing to curtail the vector infections." He also warned the union ministry to take precautions, as the incidence of dengue will soon spread to neighbouring Andhra and Kerala. TMC founder G. K. Vasan also told reporters that the state has failed to control the mosquito menace and dengue deaths.