HYDERABAD: The State Government has advised against jumping to conclusions by diagnosing viral fevers as chikungunya since elaborate procedures are required to confirm this disease.

Reacting to reports that there were widespread cases of chikungunya in the State, Health Minister K. Rosaiah and Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, I.V. Subba Rao said at a press conference here on Saturday that 52,000 fever cases were reported at Government hospitals in the State since January this year.

"There is no evidence that all are chikungunya cases," Mr. Rao said, adding that the number of fever cases could be more as the Government did not have a mechanism to collect information from private sources.

The Minister, who had earlier participated in a meeting with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to review the spread of seasonal diseases, said chikungunya was not a life-threatening fever. There were no deaths in the State on account of the virus. The deaths that were linked to the fever actually had three or four other causative factors.

He said chikungunya did not have a treatment procedure different from that for normal fevers. The only method of treatment available was administration of paracetamol and antibiotics. An alternative drug available in homoeopathy was `ippetorium,' drug of which 1.5 lakh doses had been distributed by CPI activists.

Mr. Subba Rao said the Government was focused on checking chikungunya ever since its prevalence was reported in December last. About 3,000 medical camps were conducted for suspected cases.

Medicine stocks

Sufficient stock of medicines were available in Government hospitals to treat monsoon-related diseases, including gastroenterology cases. In addition, an amount of Rs. 3 lakhs was deposited with the medical authorities in districts for emergency purchases.

Mr. Rao refuted reports that the Government lacked fogging and spraying machines for taking preventive measures against viral fevers. In fact, a proposal was made to buy 23 more fogging machines.

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