Centre to aid Kerala fight Chikungunya outbreak:Ramadoss

Alappuzha, Oct 6: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today confirmed that the disease outbreak in Cherthala taluk was Chikungunya but said he would comment on the exact cause of over 80 deaths in the area only after receiving reports of experts.

Addressing a press conference here after visiting Thuravoor community health centre and Cherthala taluk hospital this morning, Dr Ramadoss said the Centre would give all assistance sought by the Kerala government to tackle the situation.

While not specifying the quantum of financial aid, Dr Ramadoss said it would be in the form of fogging machines and chemicals and larvicidal fish for vector control, apart from testing kits.

A special package would also be announced for Kerala, which was facing a Chikungunya outbreak for the first time, he said.

The Vector Control Research Centre at Cherthala, closed for the past few years, would be reopened and the Virology Institute at Alappuzha would be upgraded with new equipment. Nearly 40 community health centres in Kerala would also be upgraded, he said.

Any other assistance sought by the Kerala Government to tackle Chikungunya, which had reappeared in India after more than 30 years, would also be provided, he added.

While stating that several patients in Cherthala had tested positive for Chikungunya, Dr Ramadoss said the cause of the 80 deaths in Cherthala could not be said to be due to Chikungunya.

Chikungunya was not a fatal disease, he said and noted that most patients who had died were elderly. This could mean they had died of underlying conditions, which had been aggravated by Chikungunya.

Earlier, Dr Ramadoss, accompanied by MPs K S Manoj and C S Sujatha and Kerala Health Minister P K Sreemathy visited Thuravoor community health centre and Cherthala taluk hospital

UNI