: Tamil Nadu Health secretary J Radhakrishnan today claimed before the Madras High Court bench that the number of dengue cases in the state had come down drastically to 1,500 this year from 13,204 reported in 2012.
In his counter affidavit filed on a PIL, praying to instruct all Collectors and local body officials to take immediate and strong action against mosquito breeding to check spread of dengue, malaria, chickungunya and 'mysterious fever,' he listed the series of steps taken, including fogging to control mosquitoes.
Besides traditional medicines like 'Nilavembu Kudineer' and papaya leaf extract were being given in all hospitals. Elisa diagnostic facilities had been extended to Primary Health Centres and Medical college hospitals, he said.
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House to house campaign for collecting and destroying breeding sources was being done in a focussed manner. Apart from local bodies and Public health department, Integrated Child development scheme and Anganvadi workers were also involved to eradicate the menace, Radhakrishnan said.
Thirteen guidelines, including removal of stacked tyres, keeping schools, colleges and other educational institutions clean, making Aedes control a people's movement had been given to officials at the district level.
Medical camps were being held in affected areas and daily surveillance was being done. There was drastic reduction in all vector borne diseases, especially dengue,he said and added that there was no such thing as 'Mysterious disease.'
The Petitioner, one K K Ramesh, had sought among other things stocking life saving drugs in hospitals for treating dengue.
