3,828 AIDS patients in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 19 (UNI) The Kerala Assembly was informed today that there were as many as 3,828 AIDS victims in the state.

In a written reply, Health Minister P K Sreemathy said there were about 100,000 HIV positive cases as per latest estimates.

To a separate question, he said during the recent outbreak of Chikungunya, the maximum of 58,345 patients were reported from Alappuzha, followed by 8,318 from here and 1,844 from Ernakulam.

During the period 81 people died of suspected Chikungunya, but the exact cause of death was officially not confirmed.

In reply to another question, Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Minister T K Balan informed the House that about 3,000 tribals in Wayanad district were affected by sickle-cell anaemia.

UNI