Dengue fever cases have been reported to be significantly increasing in Chennai, Tamil Nadu; 205 new cases were recorded on Sunday, bringing the state’s total number of cases for 2024 to 11,743. Urgent public health measures have been called for in response to the rise in dengue incidence and the four deaths linked to the illness this year.
From January 1 to July 24, there were 6,565 cases of dengue reported in Tamil Nadu; as of August, there have been nearly 5,000 additional cases. According to Health Minister Ma Subramanian, the state presently has more than 500 active dengue cases. Increased surveillance, which gathers data from government and private hospitals that report all dengue cases to the Integrated Health Information Network, has been partially blamed for the spike in incidence.
Based on the distribution of cases, ten districts have 58% of the illnesses, with the highest concentrations seen in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Krishnagiri. About 14% of the cases are in Chennai alone, with Coimbatore coming in second with 11% and Krishnagiri third with 8%. The data also shows how important it is for the state’s vast network of more than 4,000 institutions to track and manage dengue patients.
Tamil Nadu has taken a number of steps to address the growing number of instances. Increasing early diagnostic and treatment capability is one of these, especially for diseases including scrub typhus, dengue, acute gastroenteritis, cholera, jaundice, and leptospirosis. Hospitals are required to upload data regarding probable dengue patients and carry out additional testing. To guarantee accurate data and avoid duplication, private laboratories must also disclose their findings to district or city health officers.
By accepting NS1 and Elisa tests, which are more dependable than quick tests, the public health agency is concentrating on increasing diagnosis accuracy. Because of their superior sensitivity, NS1 tests—which identify the non-structural protein of the dengue virus—are recommended for early detection.
Monitoring mosquito numbers is another step in the effort to stop the dengue virus from spreading. Local organizations measure the frequency of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue by analyzing mosquito pools and conducting larval indices. In 2023, 514 mosquito pools out of 13,220 that were checked were positive for dengue. 349 of the 8,302 mosquito pools tested positive so far in 2024.
To stop the virus’s spread in places where there are clusters of infections, health officials have started implementing micro-containment measures. They stress that although supportive care helps most dengue patients recover, prompt medical attention is essential, particularly for individuals with severe symptoms or underlying medical issues. The state’s dedication to efficiently controlling and reducing the effects of dengue fever is demonstrated by the rise in cases and the continuous response initiatives.
SOUREC :
TIMES OF INDIA
