Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday flayed chief minister C Joseph Vijay and state health minister K G Arunraj for ‘failing’ to take measures on a war footing to prevent the outbreak of dengue and dengue-related deaths.In a statement, he alleged that the health minister had skipped dengue review meetings to attend byelection campaigns. “The govt is playing with the lives of the people. This is highly condemnable,’’ he said. Palaniswami said the health department’s data showed 17,348 dengue cases and seven deaths as of Sept 21, while 4,653 tested positive for scrub typhus.“Instead of taking effective measures to prevent dengue, the minister has kick-started an election campaign for the bypoll. He has been trying to deflect the issue by citing data on the number of cases reported in previous years instead of directing the govt machinery to take necessary measures to prevent an increase in dengue cases and deaths,’’ Palaniswami said.The govt should wake up at least now and take measures on a war footing, he said. “It should supply sufficient medicine, ensure the availability of doctors to treat dengue cases, and organise dengue camps,” he said.
