Measures on war-footing to contain fever in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 10 (UNI) Special teams from Army and Navy today began operation in Kerala to provide medical care to those suffering from fever and help combat outbreak of vector-borne diseases like chikungunya.

The state government sought the services of the armed forces yesterday after more than 7,000 people were affected by chikungunya since January this year. The mosquito-borne disease had also claimed 36 lives in Kerala.

Defence sources here said two teams from Pangode Military Camp here had been rushed to the worst-affected district of Pathanamthitta and Amboori Village in the district.

Each team consists of 25 members, including specialist doctors and personnel, for managing fogging and spraying machines.

Two teams from Navy were despatched to Kottayam and Idukki Districts today.

A special Indian Air Force aircraft would reach here from Mumbai later today carrying medicines, while a team of virologists from Punai was on its way to the state.

An Army team comprising specialist doctors would also reach the state today from Chennai.

In Amboori, the Army personnel set up a temporary facility at a hall and started giving medical care to people since morning.

The Army and Navy would also assist the state government in a week-long cleanliness drive being launched from Tuesday to tackle monsquito-borne diseases.

Health Minister P K Sreemathy said fogging would be carried out in all panchayats to check the proliferation of mosquitoes.

UNI