Chennai dengue surge: larvae found in 3,326 homes, 4,029 containers
Dengue is spreading fast in Chennai, and the city's health teams are working overtime to fight it.
In just one week, mosquito larvae were found in 3,326 homes and 4,029 containers across all city zones.
Dengue cases have jumped from 137 in June to 302 already this August, so yeah, it's getting serious.
Greater Chennai Corporation faces staffing shortages
Neighborhoods like Korattur and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar are seeing the worst of it; Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar alone had larvae in 610 homes.
The GCC has engaged 2,076 domestic breeding checkers for door-to-door anti-larval activities and launched awareness drives urging people to clear stagnant water around their houses, but staffing shortages are slowing things down.
As Ward 84 councilor J. John put it, "We do not have adequate number of workers for vector control. GCC has hired only 10 employees in ward 84. Usually, around 18 employees work for vector control in each ward in the area. Owing to frequent protests by workers, various other activities, including vector control have been affected," making sustained efforts tough for other affected areas like Tondiarpet and Adyar too.