Chikungunya hit nearly 50,000 people in TN: Minister

Chennai, Aug 17 (UNI) Chikungunya re-emerged in Tamil Nadu after 40 years and affected 49,567 people in the State till yesterday, Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran told the Assembly today.

Moving the demand for grants for his department, he said the viral disease transmitted by the Aedes Agypti mosquito, was reported in 26 districts, 24 municipalities and two corporations since March, 2006.

Namakkal recorded a high incidence of 11,459 cases, followed by Krishnagiri (5,747), Tirupattur (5339), Tirunelveli (4466) and Chennai (2700). No deaths were reported due to the disease, he said.

Stating that most of the affected people were adults, he said 589 blood samples were taken and sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for testing, of which 85 tested positive.

'As on date there has been a declining trend in Chikungunya cases in the State and the State government has sought Central assistance for prevention and control of transmission of the disease', he added.

Observing that Chikungunya was spread to the State from the bordering villages of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Ramachandran said these cases were reported in Tamil Nadu since March this year.

'Initially about 200 to 300 cases were reported daily in April.

The disease gradually spread to other districts and about 1000 cases were reported per day during the second week of June. During the third week of July around 250 fever cases were reported everyday.' He said all the local bodies had been instructed to intensify the control activities with an integrated approach by all departments.

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