Date:01/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/01/stories/2007060119350100.htm

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Chikungunya: 25,000 people hospitalised

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: About 25,000 people have been hospitalised in various districts of the State with symptoms of chikungunya, Health Minister P. K. Sreemathy said here on Thursday.

Thousands more with fever and other symptoms are undergoing out-patient treatment in districts such as Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The disease is spread by mosquitoes, which have multiplied in the southern districts in the past few weeks.

The Minister said the Health Department, in association with the Department of Local Self-Government, would undertake a weeklong drive starting on June 5 for vector control with public participation. It was imperative that the population of mosquitoes was kept down to check the spread of the diseases.

The mosquito density in the districts had been found to be higher than that during an outbreak last year in Alappuzha.