Chikungunya might have migrated from Kerala: Director

Mysore, Jan 13 (UNI) The outbreak of Chikungunya, which has affected large number of villagers of Pushpagiri and Belavatha villages on the outskirts of the City, might have migrated from neighbouring Kerala State, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Director Dr M S Rudrappa said today.

Talking to reporters after visiting the affected villages, he said that the government has taken an serious note of the outbreak and has decided to open Drug Distribution Centres(DDC) at the bordering districts of Chamarajanagara and Kodagu to supply medicines to the villagers as precautionary measure. One centre, with sufficient medicines, would be opened for every 1000 population.

More than 1000 villagers were affected by chikangunya. Stating that there were more than 70 suspected cases in the Pushpagiri village, samples of blood have drawn from such patients and sent to Victoria hospital at Bangalore for testing, detailed reports are expected from the hospital in a weeks time, he added.

He announced that eight teams have been constituted to look after and surveillance in the affected places in the villages. There was no need to be panic and it was a seasonal one. No hospitalisation required for the patients and they could be treated at their residence itself. Seven days of treatment would be made available to them.

Dr Rudrappa said reports were received about suspected chikungunya in Sinduvalli village on Mysore-Nanjangud road, where more than 50 people were alleged affected.

UNI