Measures taken to contain Chikungunya in Pondy: Minister

Pondicherry, Sep 19 (UNI) The Pondicherry Administration is taking all steps to curb the spreading of Chikungunya in the Union Territory, Health Minister E Valsaraj said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Valsaraj said a few months back when cases of fever were first reported, the administration had sent the blood samples to the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

However, it is yet to receive the reports.

Following this, 32 fresh samples were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi of which four were tested positive.

With this revelation, it is assumed that six among 100 people in certain areas were affected with the crippling disease.

Mr Valsaraj said a joint meeting of the officials of the Health, PWD and Local Administration departments were today held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pradeep Mehra in which decisions were taken to contain the disease.

A control room to be manned, round the clock, by a medical officer was also set up here, he added.

Mr Valsaraj appealed to the people not to panic, and added that the Department was geared up to tackle the situation.

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