Responding to media reports on Wednesday on the number of cholera deaths in Chennai, Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy clarified that the data available with the civic body was wrong. “We checked with the birth and death registry and found that the data entry operators had made typographical error. Cardiac arrest was misspelt as Cholera by the data entry operators,” said Mr. Duraisamy.
“There have been no deaths due to Cholera in Chennai in 2012,” he added.
On Saturday morning, Pullammal, a 60-year-old woman resident of Ossankulam in Chetpet, who had been admitted three days ago for treatment of diarrhoea, died following renal complications.
Meanwhile, as many as 21 new cases of diarrhoea were reported in the city on Wednesday. According to Chennai Corporation officials, no cases of cholera were among those admitted to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) and the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Tondiarpet on Wednesday. While 20 persons were admitted to the CDH, one was admitted to KMCH. The patients hailed from localities including Perambur and Kodungaiyur.
69 undergo treatment
A total of 69 persons are undergoing treatment. As many as 21 patients were discharged on Wednesday.
Mr. Duraisamy termed false the allegation of former Mayor M. Subramanian that the work on new Communicable Diseases Hospital was being delayed because of the existing local government “We will take action against the contractors who have colluded with the previous regime and wilfully delayed the project,” said Mr.Duraisamy.
