Chennai: Even while leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin alleged that the government is pushing dengue deaths under carpet, health officials denied the charges and accused politicians of creating public scare by tossing up dengue for short term gains.
A top official of the health department recalled that the health minister had already come out with facts pointing out that the recent four deaths in Tiruvallur district were not all dengue cases — only one of them had died of dengue while another died to due to leptospiroris and the remaining two because of ‘mixed infections’.
In the seven crore population of Tamil Nadu, the dengue statistics which was about 1,000 last year should not cause scare, argued the official, pointing out that in the ‘much-tinier’ state of Kerala, over 4,500 cases were reported during the year and in Malaysia, 3,500 new dengue cases pop up in a week. “Dengue is prevalent in 107 countries across the world”, he said requesting anonymity “because I do not want to enter into any political debate on this issue”.
“What should be of greater concern and deeper focus is that health administrators are constantly challenged by lack of community involvement in tackling dengue and leptospirosis despite repeated appeals”, said another healthcare expert.
Explaining the causes of dengue, he said most of the mosquitoes breed inside residences and peri-domestic areas. As for leptospirosis, the bacterial infection is caused by close human-animal cohabitation. The government is fairly in control with regard to leptospirosis with adequate stocks of doxycyclin (for adults) and erythoromycin (for youngsters), sources maintained.
“Political leaders who are crying foul by saying that dengue deaths are being pushed under carpet can actually spend time in educating people to maintain hygiene,” the official said.
Earlier, Stalin visited Tiruvallur government hospital and alleged that while the government admitted to only one dengue death, in truth four children under the age of 10 had died due to the viral infection at Kaverirajapuram. He asserted that he had verified the dengue deaths after visiting the hospital.
