Centre should help Chikungunya hit states: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, July 30 (UNI) The Union government should extend all help to the Southern States to fight dreaded disease Chikungunya spread of which is causing concern, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said here today.

Addressing a Meeting of Health Ministers of Southern States to chalk out programme to tackle the viral disease which had crippled lakhs of people mostly poor.

Mr Kumaraswamy said that the Centre should extend technical and financial help to tackle the disease. A Joint Action Committee could be formed by the affected States to fight the disease, he suggested.

"Though this viral fever spread by mosquito bites, is not fatal poor people were badly affected as it crippled them thus denying their daily earnings. People in rural areas were alarmed at the wild spread of the disease. We are doing our best to sensitise them in checking it and have taken up extensive measure to treat the affected.

Karnataka Health Minister R Ashok said the disease had spread to 27 district affecting 5.98 lakh people. It was more prevalent in 35 taluks of five border districts. The government had taken up steps on war footing and had spent Rs 13 crore so far to supply medicine and treatment of the affected.

Chikungunya is a viral fever caused by an alpha virus spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes Aegypti, a day biting mosquito.

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