33 'new' Chikungunya cases in City
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26/06/2008
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Deccan Herald (Bangalore)
Bangalore: Chikungunya cases continued to admitted at both KC General Hospital and Sriramapura Referral Hospital in Bangalore on Thursday with 33 fresh suspected cases reported in both hospitals. While statewide 21,805 suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported, Health Minister B Sriramulu said that he received reports of suspected cases of dengue in three districts. "Only after getting lab report, we will know whether it is dengue or not' he said. So far no deaths have been reported and we cannot come to conclusion that there are dengue cases till we get reports he added. BBMP officials said that 236 suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported from the BBMP Referral Hospitals since June 14. Several officials including Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar visited the Sriramapura Referral Hospital. An alarming 21,805 suspected Chinkungunya cases have been reported statewide since April 2008, with 159 cases testing positive for the vector borne disease. Dakshina Kannada has been the worst hit with 19,791 cases of Chikungunya being reported as of Thursday. He said each gram panchayat will be getting a fogging machine. In next 2 to 3 days the machines will be available he said. While there is no shortage of funds or medicine, we only need more doctors said Mr Sriramulu. A District Action Committee has been formed in Mangalore headed by the Deputy Commissioner to tackle the situation said Joint Director (Malaria and Filaria) Dr Vasudev Rao. In each village teams have been formed comprising of the health workers, anganwadi workers village and health sanitation committee members who go door to door to educate people and create awareness on source reduction of the Ades mosquito. Pamphlets are being distributed on the sources such as cement tanks, broken bottles, old tires which has water he explained. The Health Minister will hold a review meeting after 10 days.