Dengue cases on decline: TN health minister

The number of dengue cases in Tamil Nadu was on the decline over the last one week and the fever situation would be brought under control within the next 15 days, state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said today.
He said this after reviewing an awareness campaign in neighbouring Tiruvallur district against the vector-borne disease which has claimed 40 lives in the state since January.
"Compared to the previous week, the number of dengue cases has been on the decline. The government will continue with its measures, so that the disease is fully brought under control in the next 10-15 days," Vijayabaskar told reporters.

Meanwhile, a five-member central team today concluded its four-day visit to Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry, during which it took stock of the dengue situation in the region.
The team members met senior government officials at the secretariat here before their departure.
State Principal Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, who attended the meeting, told reporters that the government would intensify its steps to control the spread of dengue.

It would also implement the preliminary recommendations of the central team pending its report, he added.
"One of the suggestions was regarding how to diagnose the disease in its early stages, so that deaths can be prevented," Radhakrishnan said.

Stating that the focus would be more on areas with a high incidence of dengue, he said the number of sanitary inspectors would also be increased as part of the awareness campaign.
The team, which arrived here on October 13, had termed the 40 deaths due to dengue since January in the state "minimal" and said there was no need to panic.
During discussions with the team on October 13, the state government had sought a central assistance of Rs 256 crore to combat the disease.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami had also taken up the plea for the aid with Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey during his visit here yesterday.