Chikungunya under control in Kerala: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 20 (UNI) Kerala Health Minister P K Sreemathy today said the situation in Chertala in Alappuzha district where there was a chikungunya outbreak was now under control.

Talking to mediapersons here, Ms Sreemathy said there was a considerable decline in fresh cases of the viral fever in the area, where the maximum number of casualties and cases had been reported.

Though some other parts of the state had reported cases of chikungunya it had not caused any alarming situation, she added.

Ms Sreemathy said the Health Department had drawn up a plan to activate field workers like health inspectors in the state, specially in urban areas, to step up cleanliness and awareness campaign.

Denying media reports that the government had decided to exclude those above 50 years of age from the purview of the financial assistance for treatment from the Society for Medical Assistance for the Poor, the Health Minister said the government did not take any such decision.

The Society's governing body, while considering pending applications recently, had only adopted a temporary norm that the earning members of the families should get priority in choosing the beneficiary and this did not mean that those above 50 years should be kept out of the scheme, she clarified.

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