The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : `No deaths due to chikungunya'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 01, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

`No deaths due to chikungunya'

Special Correspondent

42-day campaign in rural areas from Sept. 4

Coimbatore: Though 10 persons in the district have tested positive for chikungunya , no death has been reported so far, Collector Neeraj Mittal told a press conference here on Thursday.

Pointing out that of the 41 samples sent for laboratory test, results of 15 had been received till date. Most of those affected were from southern parts of the district like Udumalpet and Pollachi blocks. It could be neither described as "urban centric" or "rural centric". While contending that it would not be possible to say how many people in the district had symptoms of chikungunya, all that he would say was "now the registration ( in government hospitals) has reduced".

Besides, private hospitals need not report to the district administration of the patients affected by this disease because it was not infectious . However, as a matter of abundant precaution, several measures had been envisaged.

The major one was purchase of fogging machines costing Rs 41,000 each by the panchayats in 10 blocks. "Our action plan is to ensure fogging in all areas, both urban and rural, involving all the block and health officials and also panchayats.". The 42-day campaign in rural areas would commence on September 4.

He appealed to the public to get rid of stagnant water, which was the breeding ground of the mosquito that carries chikungunya-causing virus. To a questioner, he said there was no report of any confirmed dengue cases in the district.

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