Preventive steps for Chikungunya epidemic taken: Lakshmi

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) A total of 895,504 suspected Chikungunya cases have been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh up to July 19, 2006, Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi told the Rajya Sabha today.

Of them, Andhra Pradesh reported 66,109 total fever cases or suspected Chikungunya cases; Karnataka - 543,286 cases; Maharashtra - 202,114; Tamil Nadu - 41,211; Madhya Pradesh - 43,784.

High incidence of fever cases with anthralgia was reported from 18 districts of Andhra Pradesh, 27 districts of Karnataka, 31 from Maharashtra, 31 from Tamil Nadu and 4 from Madhya Pradesh, she said in a written reply.

To contain the spread of Chikungunya, the Government has deputed teams consisting of epidemiologist, public health specialist, microbiologist and entomologist for assessment of situation and provide technical assistance and guidance to the affected states.

It has also disseminated comprehensive technical guidelines to states for undertaking preventive measures to contain spread of the disease and ensure diagnosis and its symptomatic treatment.

The states had also been provided larvicides and pyrethrum extract for fogging, she added.

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