TN Govt warns shops selling chikungunya drugs

Chennai, June 13 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government would take stringent action against private medical shops selling medicines claiming to cure chikungunya, Health and Family Welfare Minister K K S S R Ramachandran warned today.

Speaking to reporters after chairing a high-level review meeting on the steps to be taken to prevent the spread of chikungunya in the state, he said if any medical shop sold medicines or drug claiming to cure chikungunya, action would be taken against them.

Asserting there was no incidence of chikungunya in the state, he said preventive measures had been intensified.

''All Primary Health Centres and government hospitals have been stocked with adeqaute quantiy of medicines to prevent chikungunya.'' Health centres were set up in the border areas and those entering the state were thoroughly screened.

''If any of them are found to have symptoms of chikungunya they are being admitted to government hospitals,'' he added.

Mr Ramachandran said the government had also initiated steps through the local bodies for rearing 'Kampuchea,' a type of fish, which was found useful in eradication of chikungunya-causing mosquito.

UNI