The Hindu : National : ``Chikungunya deaths, if any, will be probed''

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Thursday, Jul 27, 2006

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``Chikungunya deaths, if any, will be probed''

Special Correspondent

Yerrannaidu questions Minister's contention that there have been no deaths due to the fever

Anbumani Ramadoss

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss on Wednesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre would look into the suspected cases of Chikungunya fever deaths as reported by Members of Parliament from peninsular India during a calling attention motion on the spread of this "debilitating non-fatal viral illness."

Though the Minister in his written statement had maintained that no deaths due to Chikungunya fever had been reported from the affected States, instances cited by members in their subsequent interventions saw him agree to examine these deaths.

According to the Minister, the fever — first reported in India in 1963 — had returned after a three-decade dormancy and 121 districts across seven States were affected by it with a total of 9,74,541 suspected cases. Of the 10,611 samples sent to laboratories, 992 tested positive.

In his statement, he had said the largest number of cases were in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh while Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala were among the States affected by the fever.

The motion was initiated by Telugu Desam Party member K. Yerrannaidu who questioned the Minister's contention that Chikungunya fever had not caused a single death. He insisted that 150 people died in Andhra Pradesh till March 2006 .

To Congress member Tejashwini Seeramesh's demand that special financial assistance be given to Karnataka to deal with the fever, Dr. Ramadoss said Chikungunya could be tackled with pain-relieving drugs such as paracetamol, fluids and normal diet.

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