The Hindu : New Delhi News : Claim on Chikungunya disputed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 25, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Claim on Chikungunya disputed

Special Correspondent

Dr. Ramadoss says Chikungunya is a non-fatal disease

NEW DELHI : Rajya Sabha members have questioned the Government's claim of nil Chikungunya deaths in the country.Over 11 lakh cases of the viral disease had been reported from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala.

Members, cutting across party lines, sought clarification from the Government on a calling attention motion. They expressed concern over the rapid spread of the "debilitating" disease in several parts of the country.

Members from Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and some other States reported deaths in contrast to Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss' claims. Dr. Ramadoss said Chikungunya was a non-fatal disease. The deaths being reported by members "must have been due to some complications due to wrong diagnosis or false mode of treatment."

He said as of now there was no national-level policy on the disease that had recurred in the country after 32 years. There was no vaccine available for the disease, which resembles dengue fever.

The Indian Council of Medical Research was involved in research. The World Health Organisation had initiated steps for global research. The Government had included it under its World Bank-funded Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme.

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