Chicken Guinea claims two lives in Betul district

Bhopal, June 28 (UNI) Two people have died and more than 10,000 suffering from 'Chicken Guinea' in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district, official sources said today.

Lack of proper medical facilities in the area was making it difficult to control the disease, spread in five blocks of Betul district. The disease was detected one month ago in the district's Prabhatpatnam village adjoining Maharashtra.

The disease, which is generally not fatal, claimed the lives of Bhavna (11) and Dwarkabai (45).

Meanwhile, patients affected by 'Chicken Guinea', manifested by symptoms of high fever and extreme body pain, visited hospitals at Khetia and Sendhwa area in Badwani district. The blood samples of the patients had been sent to a laboratory in Pune.

Health department source confirmed the disease had spread its to Amla, Athner, Bhainsdehi and Betul blocks. The disease is spread by aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

City-based Hamidia Hospital superintendent S C Tiwari told UNI here that a medical team had been dispatched to the affected areas in May last week.

More than 24 blood samples had been sent for testing to the NICD, New Delhi, after the Chicken Guinea was confirmed.

The Public Health Department had appointed 10 doctors in the affected area but only one had joined duty.

Meanwhile, Public Health Director Yogiraj Sharma denied that there was negligence in combating the disease. Regarding just one doctor reaching the area, he said he would be able to comment upon the matter after gathering full details.

He said the disease was not fatal and deaths due to the disease was rare. The situation was being regularly monitored and every possible step would be taken to curb the disease, he said.

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