WHO team to visit Alappuzha tomrrow

Alappuzha, Oct 4: A World Health Organisation (WHO) team will visit Cherthala and other areas of the district tomorrow, which are in the grip of a suspected Chikungunya outbreak, Kerala Health Minister P K Sreemathy said.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, 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 Centre'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 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 due to suspected Chikungunya outbreak in Cherthala went up to 64 with two more women died in the area yesterday.

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

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

UNI