Two dengue deaths spark health concerns at Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camp in Tenkasi

Chennai, Aug 19 (IANS) A 27-year-old woman has died of dengue at the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp near Kadayanallur in Tenkasi district, heightening concern over a prolonged fever outbreak that has reportedly affected more than 50 residents.

The deceased was identified as Narmala, wife of Dinesh and a resident of the camp at Boganallur in Kadayanallur taluk. She had been admitted to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital after being diagnosed with dengue. Despite treatment, she died on Tuesday, according to information from the camp.

Her death comes shortly after a 13-year-old girl from the same settlement reportedly succumbed to the mosquito-borne infection. Rihana Mary, the daughter of Rajan and Saila Sri, died while receiving treatment for dengue at the same government hospital in Tirunelveli.

The two deaths have caused anxiety among families living in the rehabilitation camp, where residents said fever cases had persisted for nearly a month. More than 150 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee families have lived at the settlement for about 35 years.

During the past four weeks, over 50 people from the camp have reportedly developed fever and sought treatment at government and private hospitals in the region.

Following reports of dengue and the two fatalities, health and sanitation measures have been stepped up in and around the camp. Health personnel are understood to be monitoring residents, while local bodies have intensified mosquito-control and cleaning operations to curb any further spread of the disease.

Residents, however, blamed poor sanitation around the settlement for creating conditions favourable to mosquito breeding. They alleged that garbage collected from nearby localities was regularly transported and dumped close to the camp. Portions of the accumulated waste were also allegedly being burnt, exposing families to smoke and worsening the unhygienic conditions.

Camp residents urged the district administration and local authorities to immediately clear the waste, prevent further dumping and undertake sustained sanitation work. They also sought regular fogging, removal of stagnant water and closer medical surveillance, particularly for children and other vulnerable residents.

The residents appealed for fever screening and timely treatment to be continued until the outbreak is brought under control. They said permanent measures were necessary to keep the camp surroundings clean and prevent more dengue cases and deaths. They also called for a detailed assessment of mosquito breeding sources nearby.

–IANS

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