BIJAPUR: Alarmed by the spread of chikungunya in the neighbouring district of Gulburga, the administration has stepped up efforts to prevent spread of the mosquito-borne viral disease in the district.

According to district health officer B.H. Kaamreddy, over 3,300 suspected chikungunya cases have been reported in the district so far. Most of them were from Sindagi and Muddebihal taluks bordering Gulbarga district. In all, 90 villages were affected by the disease.

He told The Hindu here on Thursday that task forces consisting of revenue and health staff were constituted at taluk level.

Dr. Kaamreddy said though there was an overall improvement in the situation in the past two weeks, some fresh cases were reported from Yankanchi and Kuntoji villages in Sindagi taluk. Kotyal village in the taluk also reported a few cases. Medical teams were rushed to these villages, he said.

Fogging under way

He said anti-larval spray was not of much use as mosquitoes causing the fever bred in clean water stored for domestic purposes. However, fogging was under way in many affected villages. In all, 23 fogging machines were pressed into service, he said. Fogging was taken up in some affected villages coming under Agarkhed and Salotagi public health centres limit in Indi taluk on Thursday. So far, 40 villages were covered.

To a query, Dr. Kaamreddy said Rs. 14 lakhs was provided for the purpose, with which medicines were purchased. Public can contact him on phone nos. 250107 and 258038 (08352) or cell no. 9448751161 in case of emergency.

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