Surveillance of fever cases and public awareness campaign to prevent dengue were intensified across Madurai district on Sunday, especially in Melur block which has seen high incidence of suspected and confirmed dengue cases.
A special monitoring team from the district administration led by Additional Collector G.K. Arun Sundar Thayalan, visited dengue-hit hamlets in Melur block on Sunday along with officials from the Revenue and Health Departments.
The week-long intensive campaign to contain dengue fever which began on Saturday is going door-to-door to create awareness of the hazards of water stagnation and to screen people having fever in various hamlets of Melur block.
“We are going by what Collector Anshul Mishra said at a review-cum-coordination meeting on Friday. Five mobile medical units have been pressed into service in Melur block to trace fever cases and provide immediate medical attention. Even if it is normal fever, our team is keeping a track to rule out dengue,” Mr. Thayalan told The Hindu on Sunday.
Mosquito breeding sources in Melur block are being identified and eliminated through door-to-door survey, while persons having fever with dengue symptoms are being attended to by the mobile medical units. In cases where it is required, they would be referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital here.
Another control measure taken up for dengue fever control is distribution of Siddha medicine ‘nilavembu kashayam,’ the Additional Collector has said.
The distribution of herbal Siddha medicine is being monitored by T.N. Ramanathan, Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, who has been deputed by the State government to oversee dengue control steps in southern districts.
Also, doctors of Primary Health Centres in the Melur block and public health staff have been asked to be on alert. Meanwhile, Mr. Mishra has given instructions to improve sanitation on the GRH premises too.
Following his orders, additional rounds of anti-larval wok and fogging are being done in GRH since Friday at the paediatric wing, special dengue wards and staff quarters. “We are doing water purification and cleanliness works on regular basis. Five workers have been engaged on daily wage basis and they are being paid from the hospital maintenance fund,” a supervisor in the sanitation wing of GRH said.
