The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Chikungunya: blood samples sent to Pune institute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Chikungunya: blood samples sent to Pune institute

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: Th e administration here has formed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) and 25 special teams to treat suspected cases of chikungunya. Blood samples collected from 90 patients have been sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Since cases with high fever, inflammation and pain in joints are found in villages at public health centres at Thirukkurunkudi, Ittamozhi, Sanganapuram, Panagudi, Vadakkankulam and Thisayanvilai, the RRT, formed by the Collector G. Prakash, under the leadership Deputy Director of Health Services, is touring the affected areas where 1,483 suspected cases were treated.

Apart from the DD, Health Services, the RRT comprises the District Malaria Officer, Senior Medical Officer and a Health Inspector.

A special team comprising an epidemiologist, microbiologist and a physician from Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital visited 65 villages in the affected areas, where they tested the blood samples for dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

"So far, no case of these diseases have been found. Nevertheless, we have sent the samples to National Institute of Virology for confirmation" the Deputy Director, Health Services, Dr. Uma pointed out.

Seven persons, who were affected by the disease, were being treated properly, said Collector Sunil Paliwal. The district administration came to know that the affected persons hailed from Krishnan Kovil, Pallivilai, Vathiyar Vilai, Kamarajarpuram and Arunthathiyar Colony — all in Nagercoil municipal limits.

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