Health authorities have taken prompt action to stall the spread of Chikungunya in Eheliyagoda on the instructions of Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, a ministry spokesman said. The attention of the Minister had been drawn to the sharp increase of the new cases of Chikungunya reported from the Ratnapura district in the last few days, he said. Blood tests carried out by a medical team sent to Ratnapura on Monday have detected 75 new Chikungunya cases and measures were taken to provide the patients immediate hospital treatment. A discussion held at the Ratnapura DDHS office chaired by Minister De Silva had revealed that there was a sharp increase of Chikungunya in Kuruwita, Kiriella and Eheliyagoda. The Minister had instructed relevant authorities to have house to house surveillance conducted in these areas and to take preventive measures including the destruction of mosquito breeding places and fumigation of mosquito prone environs. Minister De Silva has instructed his officials to send extra stocks of drugs, health workers and doctors to Ratnapura, he added. S.A.J.