Dengue fever has claimed an early casualty in the city.
Fourteen-year-old Sahana Bindhuja, daughter of AIADMK Councillor M.Shahirsha of Ward 17, representing Ellis Nagar, died at a leading private hospital in the city in the early hours of Tuesday following severe bleeding and a fall in her blood platelet count.
According to hospital authorities, the girl was shifted to the hospital at 6.30 p.m. on Monday on the advice of a paediatrician in Arasaradi.
She had high fever for the past few days and was admitted to a private hospital here in a critical condition. Despite ventilator support and emergency dengue control treatment, the girl succumbed at 2.55 a.m.
Hospital sources said lab reports had confirmed that the girl had tested positive for dengue fever.
Said City Health Officer Yasodha Mani, “Places such as Anaiyur, Vilangudi, Ponnagaram and Aathikulam are vulnerable to dengue fever and our teams have stepped up surveillance. Mosquito source reduction activity has been initiated to cover all the 100 wards.”
The city had 80 suspected dengue cases from March to August this year of which 18 cases tested positive.
Three vulnerable districts – Madurai, Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari – have been put on high alert.
Director of Public Health K.Kulandaisamy told The Hindu over phone that a rapid response mechanism had been put in place in the three dengue- prone districts.
“After the recent rains, we have to be vigilant since these three districts had more dengue cases last year. Our focus is on containing vector- borne and water- borne diseases as well,” he added.
