In the wake of heavy rains, the Madurai Corporation launched an intensive dengue prevention drive at Sellur and Athikulam areas in the city on Friday.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa, accompanied by Corporation Commissioner C. Kathiravan and senior officials, visited the two places and cautioned the public to be on the alert. “There are chances of dengue fever outbreak in these two thickly-populated areas. Special medical camps are being organised as a preventive step to screen fever cases and provide immediate treatment. The corporation is giving special focus for Ward 7 (Sellur) and Ward 48 (Athikulam) since there were more fever cases with dengue symptoms last year,” he said.
Doctors from corporation dispensaries, health inspectors, sanitary inspectors and conservancy workers have been deployed in the two wards to carry out dengue surveillance and take up prevention measures.
The Mayor said the corporation had roped in teachers and members of self-help groups and voluntary organisations to assist the surveillance teams.
“Each ward will have 10 special teams and they will undertake door-to-door awareness campaign. They have been asked to inspect the water tanks and water storage containers in every house since dengue-causing mosquitoes breed there. Fogging will be done in both the areas to eliminate breeding sources,” Mr. Chellappa said.
The corporation is also distributing ‘Nila Vembu Kashayam’ to prevent dengue. The intensive campaign will continue on Saturday.
The Mayor said 857 dengue fever cases were reported in the city in 2012 and it came down to 57 cases last year. This year, 14 persons had dengue fever so far, Mr. Chellappa added.
The Mayor and others distributed pamphlets on how to prevent dengue. Unused plastic containers and tyres, which prove to be a major source for mosquito breeding, were removed.
Assistant Commissioner A. Devadoss and City Health Officer V. Yasodha Mani were present.
