Chikungunya fast spreading in K'taka coastal areas

Mangalore, May 21 (UNI) Chikungunya menace, which was first found in Sullya Taluk of Daxina Kannada a few weeks ago, is now fast spreading to neighbouring taluks of Puttur, parts of Bantwal and Belthangady, with more than 1,500 suspected cases reported, creating concern for the Health Department in the district.

Meanwhile, a person from Ramakunja near Kadaba in Puttur, suffering with high fever and joint pains for the last one week, died at a private hospital in Puttur on Monday last.

However, the department clarified that Ramanath (28) did not die of Chikungunya.

District Health Officer Govindaraj said the cause for the death was, however, yet to be ascertained. It could be even due to rat fever.

The number of people with high fever and joint pains were increasing by the day and long queues would be seen in most of the private clinics in Puttur, Sullya and Belthangady.

The department, however, has only records of those who test blood and those admitted to the government hospitals and health centres.

Majority among those suffering with the Chikungunya were from the labour class.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) team, which arrived at Sullya from New Delhi on May 20, had held a meeting with local health officials and staff to discuss about measures to control the disease from spreading to other parts and other preventive aspects.

The beds were full with patients complaining of high fever and joint pains in the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in places like Sullya, Panja, Bellare, Subramanya, Aranthodu and Gutthegaru.

To manage the heavy rush in these PHCs, the department had set up mobile clinics for the distribution of medicines in all anganwady centres in the taluk.

MORE UNI MA SIV PK DB2024