The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : No chikungunya death: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 18, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

No chikungunya death: Minister

Special Correspondent

Medical team conducted an investigation

CHENNAI: Minister for Health K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran on Thursday denied that there was any death due to chikungunya in the State.

Intervening in a debate on the demand for grants for the Health department, Mr. Ramachandran said it had been told in the recent meeting of the Health Ministers of the four southern States that no death was caused by chikungunya.

Raising the issue, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) whip K.A. Sengottaiyan said the Government had not taken any step to ascertain the cause of the mysterious fever that had affected lakhs of people in the State and prevent it from spreading to other areas.

Quoting reports in a section of the Press, Mr. Sengottaiyan said the disease had claimed two lives in Chennai on Wednesday.

Mr. Ramachandran said a medical team formed by the Government had conducted a thorough investigation and found that the deaths were not caused by chikungunya. He made it clear that the Government would not take the task of ensuring the welfare of the people lightly.

Incidence of chikungunya had been reported in the State after five decades, he said, adding that even in 1964 when it struck the State, no casualty was reported. The World Health Organisation had not taken steps to evolve a vaccine in view of the nature of the disease, he pointed out.

"The only solution to preventing the disease lies in eliminating the mosquito menace," Mr.Ramachandran said. He appealed to the public to extend a helping hand to the Government in achieving the task.

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