Karnataka - Bangalore

Chikungunya: experts to meet today

Bangalore: Concerned over the simultaneous outbreak of chikungunya and dengue in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and other parts of the State, including Bangalore, the Government has convened a meeting of experts on Monday to discuss ways of tackling the vector-borne diseases.

Apart from infecting 21,805 persons all over the State, the viral disease has spread in several parts of the city such as Srirampuram, Ramchandrapuram and surrounding areas. The KC General Hospital has also received cases from Seshadripuram, Magadi Road and Kamakshipalya.

The meeting to be chaired by the former Chairman of the State Government’s Task Force on Health, H. Sudarshan, will involve officials from the Union Government’s Regional Health Centre.

Though the number of suspected cases is reducing over the days, the hospital on Sunday admitted two more patients in its “chikungunya ward” and 12 others were treated as outpatients. This is apart from more than 20 cases that were reported at the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) Srirampuram Referral Hospital.

Dr. Sudarshan told The Hindu on Sunday that the meeting would review the efforts made by the State Health and Family Welfare Department and the BBMP in tackling the disease.

“We will review the situation and discuss what more can be done to deal with it. Though preliminary efforts are being taken up by the Health Department, people have to directly involve themselves in our efforts. They should realise and take precautions,” he said.

“We are more concerned because the outbreak of chikungunya and dengue is simultaneous in some places,” he said.

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