The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rs. 46 lakh released to fight chikungunya

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 46 lakh released to fight chikungunya

Special Correspondent

This is to tackle the outbreak in Dakshina Kannada district

The disease has spread to 100 villages in the district
Fogging machines have been distributed for spraying in disease-affected areas

BANGALORE: The State Government on Thursday released Rs. 46 lakh to control the spread of chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, in Dakshina Kannada district.

Minister J. Krishna Palemar told presspersons here that chikungunya was widely prevalent in the entire district and over 4,000 people in Mangalore, Bantwal and Sulia taluks have been affected.

Extent

The disease has spread to 100 villages in the district and the Department of Health and Family Welfare has taken steps to control the disease, said Mr. Palemar.

The Minister said the symptoms of the disease are high fever and pain in the limbs. The disease is widespread in neighbouring Kodagu and Udupi districts also, he added. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa held a videoconference with the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday and instructed the official to take precautionary measures to tackle the problem.

Preparation

Officials have carried out indoor and outdoor fogging in the affected villages as part of the preventive measures. Adequate number of fogging machines have been distributed to the officials concerned to undertake spraying in disease- affected areas. Forty-eight medical teams have been formed to provide treatment to those affected in villages.

Staff and students of private medical colleges have also been roped in to provide service to the people, the Minister said.

Chikungunya is transmitted through bites from the ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito. It is a viral fever with symptoms similar to dengue and is usually not fatal. Several lakh people had suffered from the disease in north and south districts of the State in the past two years.

During the pre-monsoon period, large-scale breeding takes place in households where water is stored in cement tanks, drums, barrels and air-coolers, which are not cleaned regularly.

Sea erosion

Referring to sea erosion in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, Mr. Palemar said a Rs. 2 crore proposal has been submitted to the State Government to tackle the problem during the monsoon. The proposal includes the construction of seawalls in three coastal districts, he said.

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