TN seeks Rs 256 cr from centre to tackle dengue

The Tamil Nadu government has sought Rs 256 crore from the central government to manage dengue in the state, said state Health Minister C. Vijaybaskar.

Talking to reporters here, Vijaybaskar said the funds request was made to the team deputed by the central government on the directors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to investigate the dengue outbreak in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile the central team took stock of the dengue outbreak situation in the state.

The Central team includes doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), New Delhi, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi

Team member Ashutosh Viswas, Professor of Medicine at AIIMS,said the state government has taken steps on war footing to meet the situation.

According to him, people should be aware about the steps to control mosquitoes by not allowing water to stagnate.

It has been noted that during 2017 (till October 12), a total number of 12,324 dengue cases and 18 deaths due to dengue have been reported from the state, the central government said in a statement.

Maximum number of cases are reported from Thoothukudi (1,178), Chennai (1,138), Sankarankoil (1,072), Coimbatore (942), Thirupur (782) and Kanyakumari (777).

Deaths due to dengue have been reported from Thirupur (4), Erode (3), Salem (3), Coimbatore (2), Karur (2), Trichy (1), Sankarankoil (1), Namakkal (1) and Dharmapuri (1), the statement added. - IANS