The New Indian Express 03.09.2010
No cholera outbreak: Mayor
CHENNAI: Refuting the AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa's claim on poor condition of civic body-run hospitals and prevalence of communicable disease, Mayor M Subramanian on Thursday denied any outbreak of cholera in the city.
Rubbishing media reports and AIADMK's claim that there was a cholera epidemic in parts of north Chennai, Subramanian visited the Corporation-run Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Tondiarpet and interacted with the patients admitted with suspected diarrhoeal diseases.
Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Subramanian said, "The number of admissions with symptoms like diarrhoea has surged in the CDH due to the prevailing change in weather conditions."
"Majority of the inpatients at the CDH are suburban residents from Tambaram, Maduravoyal and Puzhal. Within the city limits, the health situation of general public is under control and due to changed climate, about 15 people on an average visit CDH from North Chennai with symptoms of diarrhea everyday, Mayor added.
While admitting that there are sewer leakages into pipes carrying drinking water in north Chennai, Subramanian explained that the leakage was due to the construction of new drains by Metro Water and the Corporation.
Such spots have been identified and Corporation medical officers are frequenting the areas to prevent any epidemic outbreak, he further said.
North Chennai MP T K S Elangovan, Pursawalkam MLA V S Babu and Corporation deputy commissioner (health) Jyothi Nirmala and health officials of the civic body accompanied the Mayor during his visit.
