Steps taken to check Chikun Gunya disease in K'taka

Bangalore, Apr 6 (UNI) Adequate steps have been taken to check the spread of Chikun Gunya disease, prevalent in the northern districts of Karnataka, especially Gulbarga, Health Minister R Ashok told the State Assembly today.

In reply to a query from senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge during zero hour, he said steps have also been taken to treat those affected by the disease, widely prevalent in neighbouring Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Patients would be provided free medicine and teams have been formed under the supervision of District Health Officers to contain the disease.

Stating that there was no cause for alarm, Mr Ashok said the disease was caused by tiger mosquito, which breeds in fresh water.

Adequate steps have been taken to use fogging machines to check the spread of mosquitoes and fogging machines were being procured from the neighbouring States to meet the demand. Each of the affected district would be provided 20 fogging machines, he added.

He allayed the fear of members that the disease was caused by eating chicken or meat. Some of the affected districts were Gulbarga, Bidar, Tumkur, Bellary and Bijapur.

Mr Kharge said the disease was rampant in Gulbarga, especially in Yadgir taluk where 13,856 cases have been reported. He lamented the shortage of doctors and medicine and wanted the Government to take immediate steps to ensure adequate treatment to the affected.

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