Kerala: Measures on war-footing to contain fever

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 10: Special teams from Army and Navy todaybegan operation in Kerala to provide medical care to those sufferingfrom fever and help combat outbreak of vector-borne diseases likechikungunya.

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

Defence sources here said two teams from Pangode Military Camphere had been rushed to the worst-affected district of Pathanamthittaand 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 Mumbailater today carrying medicines, while a team of virologists from Punaiwas 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 aweek-long cleanliness drive being launched from Tuesday to tacklemonsquito-borne diseases.

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

UNI