Chennai: Dengue cases in the State have reached the 7,000 mark after 404 cases were recorded last week as per National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme records. In spite of such large numbers, public remains unaware of its prevalence.

State Health Department along with Greater Chennai Corporation claimed to have undertaken many measures towards dengue prevention including awareness campaigns, mass cleanliness drive, domestic breeding inspection, and source reduction in case of positive dengue cases, but patients say that hygiene is a major issue even at government hospitals in the city.

“Health department officials have asked to get treatment for dengue at government hospitals, but how can we expect to get treated in places with mosquitoes even in fever intensive ward? Drinking water is not available on all floors even after repeated complaints,” said Usman Khan, a patient from Tambaram at government hospital.

In order to strengthen dengue control and prevention, public health director has been inspecting domestic mosquito breeding in public places. Public Health director claimed that 4,000 legal notices were issued to buildings that were found to be breeding ground for mosquitoes, but public remains uninformed of regulations on dengue breeding and control measures.

“We have not received any directions to check open water stagnation or mosquito breeding by any government authority. No officials have ever come for inspection in our locality. Though we have mosquito menace prevailing, fogging is not a practice in Ekkatuthangal,” said V Ramani, a resident of Ambal Nagar, Ekkatuthangal.

When contacted public health director, K Kolandaisamy, admitted that many people are unaware of dengue prevalence, breeding sources and its consequences.

“Domestic breeding inspection will help to inform people on dengue and its prevention. We are identifying the locations and carrying out inspection in districts with higher number of cases. We are also involving field workers and health education department officials to create awareness,” he said.