The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Health authorities sound chikungunya alert

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

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Health authorities sound chikungunya alert

Staff Reporter

72 diagnosed with symptoms indicative of the disease

HYDERABAD: The district health administration has been placed on alert following reports of chikungunya fever in parts of the city. Eleven persons, including a 12-year-old boy, who are suspected to have contracted Chikungunya, are being treated at Fever Hospital in Nallakunta.

With the 11 suspects being from Kacheguda, Goshamahal, Uppuguda and Lakdikapul among others, urban health posts across the city have been asked to organise medical camps in their jurisdictions, while 23 mobile teams are going door-to-door, distributing pamphlets on chikungunya and precautions. Around 10 non-governmental organisations have been asked to tom-tom the same on autorickshaws.

The various medical camps and teams have so far screened 7,642 persons. Out of these, 261 persons were treated for viral fever. Seventy-two of them were also suffering from viral fever with reactive arthritis, a condition symptomatic of Chikungunya. Twenty-two of these people were severely anaemic too, according to District Health and Medical Officer S. Satyavathi, who stressed that with not a single confirmed case of Chikungunya in the city, there was no need to panic.

"Chikungunya is not fatal and is similar in symptoms to viral fever with reactive arthritis. People with little resistance or anaemia or old age will take longer to recover. This could range from three days to 45 days," she said.

However, the actual scenario could be different. The administration has based its conclusions on reports from State-run hospitals, primarily the Fever Hospital.

Hundreds of patients approach private hospitals and smaller clinics situated across the city. The statistics from these hospices are not available and whatever is on hand is not complete either.

The Health and Sanitation wing of MCH is also implementing various strategies to prevent any possible outbreak of Chikungunya in the city. According to an MCH release, 300 teams with 900 workers were carrying out anti-larval and fogging operations. Distribution of pamphlets and other awareness programmes were also on.

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