Date:10/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/10/stories/2006041019120300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

There is no `chikungunya' case in Bangalore: Ashok

Staff Reporter

People need not panic, says Health Minister

Bangalore: No confirmed cases of `chikungunya' had been reported in Bangalore, Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok said here on Sunday.

Speaking to presspersons after inaugurating the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme by administering polio drops to a child at K.C. General Hospital, Mr. Ashok said there was no need for people to panic as the disease was not contagious or fatal. "We have geared up to tackle it if there are confirmed cases in the city," he said.

"There has been an unnecessary scare as some people have confused `chikungunya' with bird flu. There is no connection between the two, and there is no cause for panic," the Minister said.

The results of the 15 suspected `chikungunya' cases admitted to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital would take at least a month to come.

The viral infection might have been brought to Bangalore by migrant labourers from Gulbarga, he said.

Since January, 50,000 cases had been reported from Raichur and Gulbarga districts, but all those affected had recovered, Mr. Ashok said.