Monsoon brings Chikungunya, Dengue in Kerala

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 6: With the onset of south west monsoon, a host of vector-borne diseases like chikungunya, dengue and viral fever have started to spread throughout Kerala in alarming proportion even as the government is fighting hard to contain the viral infection.

As many as 126 chikungunya cases and 125 dengue cases had been confirmed in the state so far, Health Services Director T K Kuttamani told sources.

Of the 126 Chikungunya cases, Pathanamthitta district topped with 69 cases while most of the dengue cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, he said adding Kottayam had the highest cases of viral fever.

Dr Kuttamani said confirmed chikungunya cases were reported from nine districts and dengue from the southern districts.

About 10,000 patients were still in government hospitals in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kollam and Alappuzha districts, which were worst hit by the fever.

Denying the reports in local media that at least 11 persons had died of viral fever, he said ''no deaths were reported due to viral fever from any part of the state.'' Stating that all measures had been taken to contain the spread of the viral infection, he said vector-control activities were intensified to check the spread of chikungunya and dengue to other districts.

He said all the district, taluk hospitals and the public health centres in the affected districts had requisite doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

Apart from this, the main task would be on for vector-control measures and mosquito-source-reduction.

The Health Department had launched a massive campaign yesterday as part of the fever containment measures. The state observed the World Environment Day as ''Dry Day'' or ''Chlorination Day''.

Taking a serious note of the situation, the state Cabinet today decided to convene an all-party meet on June eight to work out plans for tackling the problem with active participation of all sections of the people.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, briefing reporters on the Cabinet decisions, said a ''Cleanliness Day'' would be observed across the state on June 12 as part of efforts to contain the spread of the fever and other vector-borne diseases.

UNI

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