WHO team to visit Chikungunya-affected Alappuzha on Oct. 5

Alappuzha, Oct 3 (UNI) A World Health Organisation (WHO) team will visit Cherthala and other areas of this district, which are in the grip of a suspected Chikungunya outbreak, on October five, Kerala Health Minister P K Sreemathy said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Sreemathy admitted that the state health department had failed to assess the seriousness of the situation and said the disease was spreading from Alappuzha to other districts.

She said the state government was seeking the Central Government's help to incorporate Chikungunya in the list of epidemic diseases.

The Central Health Secretary would also visit the affected areas soon, Mrs Sreemathy said.

In reply to a question, Ms Sreemathy said that there will be no aerial spraying of insecticides as there were strict WHO instructions against it.

The minister refused to answer questions about demands for her resignation.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the suspected Chikungunya outbreak in Cherthala went up to 64 with two more women dying in the area today.

Devaki, 65, of Pattanakkad panchayat and Bhargavi, 68, of Mararikulam North died at their homes this morning. Both were suffering from fever and other associated symptoms of Chikungunya.

More than 600 suspected Chikungunya patients are admitted in the Cherthala taluk hospital.

UNI XR ARC DK1404