An eight-year-old boy, A. Abraham of Thalarkulam near Mukkudal, died of suspected dengue attack on Sunday. However, S. Ramganesh, Deputy Director of Health Services, Tirunelveli, denied it, saying that the boy, admitted to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital on September 30 with fever, was tested negative for dengue on October 1.
Mr. Ramganesh told The Hindu that the boy diagnosed with fever at a special medical camp organised at Thalarkulam by a team of doctors from Maruthamputhur primary health centre in Pappakudi block was referred to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.
However, there was a sudden fall in his blood platelet count on Saturday and he was kept on ventilator, but he suffered haemorrhage.
Over the last 20 days, 22 patients were diagnosed with fever at the special camp organised at Thalarkulam, and seven among them tested positive for dengue. They were treated at the medical college hospital and discharged, he said.
Adequate measures were being taken to prevent the possible outbreak of dengue. Twenty mazdoors had been deputed in each of the 19 blocks and 10 mazdoors in each town panchayat to step up anti-dengue measures, he added.
