With a spurt in virus-carrying mosquitoes in Chennai and its suburbs, the number of cases of dengue has been mounting.

While there hasn't been any panic so far, unlike what was seen in Tirunelveli and Nagapattinam, it has come to light that several private hospitals have been treating patients with dengue symptoms on an outpatient basis. On Tuesday, the demise of a 26-year-old Sathya, hailing from Madhavaram - rumoured to have dengue - raised the worry quotient.

Several patients with fever and parents of feverish children rushed to the nearest hospitals to seek treatment for dengue.

Prominent children's hospitals in the city confirmed that they have had to put up a waiting list as there had been a spurt in the number of dengue-and-related-fever cases. After examining the dead woman's body, doctors at Stanley Medical College filed a report to the Department of Public Health that she had not died of dengue, but she had a "non-infectious viral condition". Surprisingly, the corporation has not stepped up and publicised the fact that this was not a dengue death, like they did when a child in Chetpet died, nor did they make it known that they were fogging and taking anti-mosquito breeding measures.

Meanwhile in Thanjavur, the Principal Health Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government Dr J Radhakrishnan, held a review meeting with district health department officials on the measures taken to control dengue outbreak in the district at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

The Secretary is now holding a series of discussion and review meetings across the State to assess the impact of dengue. Addressing officials at TMCH, Radhakrishnan said, "The spread of the disease has witnessed a spike in recent times. With monsoon round the corner, the district health deparment officials must create awareness among people and must monitor the situation regularly."

As part of the activities, short message Services (SMS) were sent to doctors and nurses about the symptoms of the dengue, preventive measures and treatments available.