'Strict measures to prevent Chikangunya'

Madikeri, Jun 26: Kodagu District Deputy Commissioner K R Niranjan has ordered Health Department officials to take immediate measures to prevent spread of the dreaded disease Chikangunya which has already attacked 12 people in the District.

After visiting the affected villages around Karike wherein more than a dozen estate labourers are suffering from the disease, he promised to provide a jeep and doctors to take the affected to the only ayurvedic hospital which exists at Karike. People complained that there were no regular doctors in the hospital and no stock of medicine hence Patients are being treated either at Kerala which is on the other side of Karike or at Puttur, after covering a distance.

Mr Niranjan instructed the DHO to ensure stock of required medicine immediately. He instructed the Gram Panchayath officials and revenue officials to prepare a list of patients suffering from the disease.

The DC later visited Bhagamandala and checked the measures taken by officials to tackle flood situation. He instructed the officials to be on the alert as Bhagamandala is the first place to get submerged if there is heavy rainfall. He has asked them to keep the boat ready to ferry people across.

Last year though a boat was provided to ferry the people across at Bhagamandala during floods, there were no experts appointed to run it. There was an instant of a dead body being carried by the family in neck deep water.

UNI