Date:02/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/02/stories/2007070253410300.htm

Kerala - Pathanamthitta

7 die of fever in Pathanamthitta

Staff Reporter

Staff shortage in many hospitals

PATHANAMTHITTA: Seven patients from Pathanamthitta district who were undergoing treatment for viral fever at various speciality hospitals in Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam succumbed to their ailments on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Viswanathan of Aenadimangalam, 55, Chandrashekharan of Thadiyoor, 58, Viswanathan Achary of Konni, 69, Zacharia of Ranni Aythala, 78, Laksmi Amma of Ayroor Plankamon, 75, Sreelakshmi of Vechoochira, 13 and Geevarghese George of Mallapally, 87.

It is alleged that many Government healthcare centres in the affected areas are facing shortage of medical staff as well as medicines.

According to District Fever Containment Cell, the total number of patients who have sought treatment for viral fever at various hospitals in the district on Sunday was 1565. Of these, 20 were suspected chikungunya cases.