Chikungunya under control in Tuticorin

Collector R. Palaniyandi said that chikungunya was under control in the district and there was no death caused so far, owing to the disease.

"Similarly, there were no suspected dengue cases reported so far," he told media persons after reviewing the health scenario in the district at an emergency meeting of senior health department officials here on Monday.

He said that the administration had decided to strengthen information, education and communication activities to stop the breeding of Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which spreads chikungunya as well as dengue.

"We had sought the assistance of school students to intensify the IEC project," he added. The students would be taught on the methods to reduce the breeding sources of Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which uses pure water to lay eggs. The source reduction techniques included removal of stagnant water from tyres, plastic cups and any other vessels, which were left uncovered.

Mr. Palaniyandi said the trained students would, in turn, teach the source reduction methods to people in their household as well as neighbourhood.

The Collector said that special fever clinics were set up in all the 47 Primary Health Centres to treat people down with high viral fever, which was one of the symptoms of chikungunya.

Deputy Directors of Health Aliyar Liaquat Ali and Selva Kumari, District Entomologist C. Manthram, Joint Director of Medical Services Appan Raj and Dean of Tuticorin Medical College R. Sarawathy attended the meeting.