Chikungunya no cause of worry in Delhi: Govt

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) Even as the national capital reported its first confirmed chikungunya case this season, the Delhi Government today said there is no need to panic and measures have been taken to prevent spread of the disease.

''There is nothing to panic about in Delhi with regard to Chikungunya despite the confirmation of a case...The virus is in Delhi citizens. Last year also several cases were reported,'' Head of Public Health Department Dr R P Vashisth said.

He said since the viral-fever was not air-borne it was not contagious.

A woman from Central Delhi's Paharganj area has tested positive for the vector-borne disease spread by aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever and is generally not fatal.

Stressing on prevention of mosquitoes breeding, Dr Vashisth said the MCD, NDMC and several NGOs have launched awareness campaign and fumigation in many areas of Delhi.

''The root cause of the problem-- breeding of mosquitoes--has to be addressed,'' he added.

''Action plans, training programmes, sensitisation programmes, participation of NGOs and RWAs. Each ward (there are 272 of them) will try to obtain maximum participation,'' he added.

Its symptoms include high fever, headache and joint pain.

The fever typically lasts two days and comes down abruptly, but other symptoms, including joint pain, intense headache and insomnia, last longer, for five to seven days.

Last year, Delhi reported 62 patients of chikungunya.

UNI