Tamil Nadu reports 15,933 dengue cases, nine deaths this year; Minister urges caution
Tamil Nadu has reported 15,933 dengue cases and nine deaths so far this year, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said in Chennai on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, the Minister said the State government is continuing precautionary measures to control the spread of the disease. He noted that this is the period when fever cases rise, particularly respiratory infections such as influenza.
He urged the public to stay alert. Parents should not send children to school if they have fever, cough or cold, he said, and advised people to wear masks as far as possible while visiting public places.
Dengue is spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water around homes, schools and workplaces. Common symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and rash. Health authorities advise anyone with such symptoms to seek medical care promptly instead of self-medicating, since severe dengue can be life-threatening if not treated in time.
Prevention focuses on clearing stagnant water from containers, coolers, tyres and flower pots, and on protection against mosquito bites, particularly during the day. The Minister's briefing did not include a comparison with dengue figures from previous years.
Earlier in the day, he welcomed undergraduate medical students enrolled for the 2026-2027 academic year by presenting them with white coats and stethoscopes at the 192nd undergraduate induction ceremony at Madras Medical College (MMC).
Of the 165 students admitted to MMC through the first round of counselling, 16 were admitted under the 7.5 per cent preferential reservation for government school students.
He also inaugurated a Medical Education Content Creation Studio, set up at a cost of ₹23.40 lakh, and introduced a new talk series titled “TEQtalksMed” to encourage entrepreneurial skills among students.
Health Secretary Darez Ahamed, Director of Medical Education and Research (in-charge) V. Loganayaki, and K. Shantharam, Dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and MMC, were among those who participated.
