Chennai:
With reports of dengue fever spreading in some southern districts of the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday stepped in to strengthen measures to control it, which has so far claimed 29 lives.
Ms Jayalalithaa, who chaired a high-level meeting in the wake of the spread of fever in Tirunelveli district, asked the officials to take measures on a war footing to contain the fever and asked the people not to panic.
Of the 1466 people hospitalised due to fever, 817 have been diagnosed with dengue. Of these, 423 patients are still undergoing treatment and the others have been discharged, the Chief Minister said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said cleaning works would be undertaken immediately in the entire Tirunelveli district and anti-dengue fumigation carried out in the entire state for the next two months.
Efforts would be taken to organise medical camps in Tirunelveli and those affected would be taken to hospital for treatment, she said, adding that separate wards would be set up in hospitals in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi for the purpose.
The Chief Minister said drinking water would be supplied to people in Tirunelveli and Kadayanallur, where more cases have been reported, in order help people not to store water.
She said a high-level group, comprising senior health officials has been constituted and is now camping in Tirunelveli to take steps to control the fever.