After holding a comprehensive review meeting on dengue fever situation here on Wednesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister V.S. Vijay has announced that Madurai district so far had 747 dengue positive cases this year and only 17 deaths.
Of the total 747 confirmed dengue fever cases, 419 were reported from Melur taluk and only seven deaths occurred there as per official records.
He reviewed the current situation with district administration officials, public health staff and medical officers at the District Collectorate. “All fever cases are being projected as dengue fever. Not all cases are dengue, but unfortunately deaths due to other reasons are being linked to dengue. Reports that 50 persons died of dengue are wrong,” he told reporters.
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According to him, the Deputy Director of Health Services of Madurai district has been probing in to causes of all deaths to ascertain the facts.
During such investigations, it is coming to light that persons who died of renal failure and cancer too had been linked to dengue and counted as dengue death, he claimed.
Mr.Vijay has said that the ELISA testing machine for dengue confirmation is functioning in Melur GH from November 15 and hence people in that area need not rush to the GRH here. Special fever wards were opened in Madurai and Melur hospitals.
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The Health Minister had asked the private hospitals not to rely on rapid test for dengue fever because it is not reliable.
“Dengue fever has treatment and it all depends on at what stage the patient is going to hospital,” he said.
In the evening, Mr.Vijay visited the GRH to inspect the fever wards meant for children, male and female patients. N. Mohan, hospital Dean, was present.