Minister flays Jaya's claims on chickungunya deaths

Chennai, Sep 21 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran tonight dismissed as 'fake' the list of chikungunya fatalities released by AIADMK General Secretary and Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa asserting the disease was not fatal.

Addressing the press here, he alleged the AIADMK leader had taken up the issue in view of the coming Madurai Central Assembly bye-election and the local body polls.

'As she has run of issues to take on the government, Ms Jayalalithaa released the fake list,' he claimed.

He said many of those mentioned in the list had died of various ailments like kidney failure and old-age related health problems whereas some of them had committed suicide.

Acknowledging the presence of the disease in Tamil Nadu, he however, reiterated there were no fatalities.

He said the government was conducting medical camps in which more than 8,000 personnel were involved and about 35,000 workers had been pressed into service to curb mosquito breeding. The government had allocated Rs 11 crore for the exercise.

Nearly 300 pieces of modern equipment had been imported from Germany at a cost of Rs 2.65 crore to deal with the mosquitoe menace and a new department to deal with the disease was functioning at the Madras Medical College.

He warned of stringent action against private hospitals charging exorbitant fee for treatment.

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