The Hindu    25.08.2012

Not dengue, says Chennai Corporation

With 299 dengue cases having been reported in the city this year so far, the Chennai Corporation’s health department has intensified its mosquito control operations. Denying that the death of one-year-old K. Nitish was caused by dengue, a senior corporation official said, “The boy did have dengue. But his death was not due to the disease. He had a history of poor intake as well as kidney and liver problems. The cause of his death is multi-organ dysfunction syndrome.”

According to a press release, the Chennai Corporation has been continuing the mosquito control drive launched three months ago. Fogging operations are being undertaken every Tuesday and Thursday in all 200 wards. Civic body officials will also remove all waste material that serve as breeding ground of mosquitoes. Distribution of pamphlets for creating awareness among residents has also been intensified, the release said.

The civic body will also conduct medical camps in residential localities that have reported cases of dengue or malaria.

The release added that the child did not have any symptoms such as fever and bleeding in the gums and skin that usually indicate complications related to dengue. The reports on liver and kidney functioning of the child show that the organs were affected. The child underwent dialysis, the release said.