Thiruvananthapuram: The State Government, in association with the National Vector-borne Diseases Control Programme, will implement a 10-day micro action plan to contain the outbreak of chikungunya.

The action plan will be a multi-sectoral integrated vector management programme involving several agencies, including local bodies and the media.

The focus will be primarily on reducing mosquito breeding places, fogging and administration of insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes, besides supply of mosquito nets to prevent the spread of the disease.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, T.L. Joshi, Director, National Vector-borne Diseases Control Programme, and Principal Secretary (Health) Vishwas Mehta said `2500 Pyrephrum,' a herbal drug, along with 2 metric tonnes of `chemi-phos' and other insecticides had been dispatched. The State Government had adequate quantity of the drugs, he said. Dr. Joshi emphasised the need to strengthen monitoring and surveillance to combat chikungunya.

He said larvae density was quite high in Cherthala and only a multi-sectoral action programme would be effective in containing the disease.

Asked whether shortcomings in the health delivery system had led to the spread of the disease, he said with good infrastructure, control programmes would work well, but there could be no compromise on vigilance and surveillance.

He said 43,138 cases of suspected chikungunya had been reported in Kerala.

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