TN Sounds Alert as Chikungunya Cases Rise: Fresh Guidelines Issued for Rapid Control

Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health (DPH) has issued an urgent advisory as chikungunya cases continue to climb across multiple districts, triggering state-wide preventive measures and an intensified mosquito-control drive.

According to the DPH, infections are surging in several southern districts, with notable spikes reported in Chennai, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Theni, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ariyalur. Officials have asked district-level health teams to activate rapid response protocols and step up monitoring of fever clusters.

Symptoms to Watch For

Doctors say recent patients are showing classic chikungunya symptoms such as:

High fever

Severe joint pain

Muscle aches

Fatigue and drowsiness

The DPH has instructed health workers to collect and test adequate numbers of blood samples in areas where fever cases are emerging, ensuring early confirmation and timely treatment.

State Orders Aggressive Mosquito-Control Drive

With the virus spreading through Aedes mosquitoes, authorities have called for:

Mass cleaning and source reduction drives

Clearing stagnant water in residential and public areas

Community sanitation campaigns

Door-to-door awareness efforts

Officials have also urged local bodies to intensify fogging and larvicide spraying, especially in hotspots where fever cases have been mapped.