80 people treated for dengue in Madurai

Madurai: Nearly 80 people from Madurai city have been treated for dengue at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in the last 30 days triggering fears among doctors of a possible epidemic. They urge the city corporation to intervene immediately.

While the admission of dengue cases from rural areas has come down drastically due to effective awareness campaign on prevention of dengue was carried out by the public health department in the last few months, the situation does not seem to have improved in the city despite the corporation officials conduct a similar campaign. The situation was not alarming as compared to the dengue cases reported in the previous years and yet it is causing concern to doctors.

More number of people from Sellur, Thathaneri, Ellis Nagar, Jaihindpuram, and Vaithiyanathapuram were treated for dengue at the GRH. As of Monday, six people were treated for dengue in the hospital. And 3-year-old Dharshini from a rural area is also reported to be taking treatment in an ICU.

The sources in the corporation also claimed that the sanitation inspectors have not been focusing on dengue prevention work in the last month. "Most of the sanitation inspectors have been involved in educating the people to participate in Swacch Survekshan 2017 survey," added the sources.

As water crisis looms large over Madurai, the doctors say that most of the people store water supplied by corporation lorries for at least four days as this could lead to breeding of mosquitoes say doctors.