Chennai, Jan 22 || Amid a noticeable increase in chikungunya infections across parts of Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a statewide alert, directing district administrations and urban health bodies to step up monitoring, diagnosis and mosquito-control efforts to curb further transmission.
Health officials said heightened vigilance was essential as seasonal conditions remain favourable for vector breeding.
In an advisory circulated to all District Health Officers and City Health Officers, the department said a rise in cases had been recorded in Chennai, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Theni, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ariyalur districts. Patients have commonly presented with high fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches and extreme fatigue or drowsiness, prompting the department to flag the need for early identification and prompt clinical management.
To strengthen surveillance and containment, field officials have been instructed to collect sufficient blood samples in fever-prone areas and ensure laboratory confirmation using IgM ELISA tests.