CHENNAI: Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran has claimed that chikungunya cases have come down drastically in the State.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday after a review meeting on the disease, he said across the State 1,302 persons were afflicted by the disease this month.

This was significantly lower than the 23,670 cases reported in June. "The disease peaked in June and, ever since, there has been a downward trend because of the measures that we have taken." In July, 13,352 cases were reported and in August 6,594.

Answering a question, Mr. Ramachandran said it was not a fatal disease. No death had been reported in any southern State.

Not fatal

On reports of deaths after contracting the disease, he said these could have been due to some other affliction. A person with a life-threatening disease might have also had chikungunya and it could not be inferred that he or she died of chikungunya.

Saying 242 chikungunya cases were reported in March, Mr. Ramachandran accused the then All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government of doing nothing to tackle its spread.

The AIADMK Government had cut back on staff strength in the health care sector, aggravating the problem.

He said adequate staff would be employed, and the department would ensure that there was no shortage on any front.

Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy said the `Namakkal model' of disease control was being followed. Namakkal was the worst affected district and the Government developed a model based on its experience there.

Areas of focus

According to this, the district was divided into zones and the focus first was on anti-larval treatment. A combination of awareness drives and fogging was on for six weeks and this led to a major reduction in the number of cases.

"There will be no shortage of man, material or medicines," he said, adding that funds would not be a constraint in controlling the disease.

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