Thiruvananthapuram: Chikungunya has reached the Kerala coast. The laboratory confirmation of the first lot — 17 cases — has come from Olavanna at Iringalloor in Kozhikode.

The viral fever outbreak was reported from Olavanna in May. The outbreak had been contained quickly.

However, the results of the serological diagnosis done at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Pune, were received at the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) only this month, senior officials at the DHS said.

A second lot of blood samples has already been despatched for a second analysis, they said. "There are currently no reports of any further outbreaks from Kozhikode and the Health Department officials have been put on alert," M.K. Jeevan, Additional Director (Public Health), said.

Chikungunya usually occurs as an epidemic, affecting large sections of the population. In this case only a few cases have been confirmed to be this disease.

Outbreak of fever

However, the viral fever outbreak in Vizhinjam is "in all probability" Chikungunya fever, even though the results of the blood samples sent for analysis at Pune are awaited, Dr. Jeevan, said.

"We are almost sure, going by clinical definitions, that almost all cases of viral fever reported from the Vizhinjam area are Chikungunya. When there is an outbreak, we start control measures without waiting for serological confirmation. In the case of Vizhinjam, we have been able to contain the outbreak. The incidence of viral fever has come down and on Thursday only 26 cases were reported, while a few weeks ago some 500 cases used to be reported daily," he added. About five per cent of the blood samples collected daily were being sent to the NICD, Pune. The Institute was reportedly running short of the serological kit for chikungunya diagnosis, which has caused the delay in confirmation.

The circumstances for a chikungunya outbreak were ripe at Vizhinjam as a large number of fishermen from neighbouring districts such as Kanyakumari had been residing at Vizhinjam during the trawling ban.

While the disease is not `dangerous,' the Health Department has launched a massive awareness campaign to seek the cooperation of the public in taking vector control measures.

Chikungunya is spread by the Aedes Agypti species of mosquitoes that spread dengue fever.

Environmental hygiene

The vector breeds in freshwater and hence garbage clearing and environmental hygiene assumes a lot of importance.

An epidemiological team has been sent to Vizhinjam to do further studies.

Water is scarce in the area and people usually store water supplied in tankers in huge containers at home.

Health workers found that most of these containers were teeming with mosquito larvae.

People have been asked to observe a `dry day' every week, when all water containers should be emptied and filled afresh.

Source reduction is the most important control measure to be adopted to check fever outbreaks, health officials said.

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