Central team tells TN to test all fever cases for dengue within three days

CHENNAI: A five-member central team that visited Tamil Nadu to investigate the dengue outbreak has asked the state government to ensure that all fever cases are tested for dengue within the first three days as per WHO protocol.
The state should ensure early diagnosis and create awareness that will bring behavioural changes among people, said National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme joint director Dr Kalpana Baruah, who was a members the central team, on Monday.
After more than 12,000 dengue cases were reported in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi deputed a five member team to assess the situation based on request from deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam.
The team, which arrived in Chennai on Friday, visited two hospitals in the city and affected areas like Salem and Chengalpet on Saturday. It visited the Union territory of Puducherry on Sunday.
“We saw that most people were aware of the disease. They knew it is caused by a daytime-biting mosquito that breeds in fresh water. But they have not done anything about it. The awareness, henceforth, should focus on bringing out behavioural change,” said Dr Kalpana.
“Discarded cups and coconut shells should not be allowed to collect water. Chennai and other areas will have rain for next three months. If vector control measures are not undertaken, transmission cannot be stopped,” she said.
The state has also decided to implement the team’s recommendations immediately without waiting for a report from the Centre. “As of now while most people coming to government hospitals undergo a rapid NS1 antigen test, those visiting private hospitals get different tests done on day five or after. The central team felt that with an early diagnosis, we may be able to bring down deaths,” said state health secretary J Radhakrishnan.
On Sunday, Union minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Choubey visited the state.