The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Chikungunya panic grips more people

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Karnataka - Bangalore

Chikungunya panic grips more people

Staff Reporter

42 report symptoms of the disease

Seven patients tested positive in K.C. General Hospital
‘There is no specialised treatment for chikungunya’

Bangalore: Even as the authorities are gearing to tackle the outbreak of chikungunya in Srirampuram, Ramchandrapuram, Laxminarayanapuram, Bashyamnagar and surrounding areas, more cases are being reported from these areas.

While the K.C. General Hospital treating 22 persons with symptoms of the viral disease as outpatients on Wednesday, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) Srirampuram Referral Hospital received close to 20 cases with similar symptoms.

Medical Superintendent of K.C. General Hospital M. Vishwa Aradhya said the disease was brought under control. “Of the six patients who were admitted to the hospital, one has been discharged. We are maintaining a separate register to keep a record of all suspected cases. We will send the blood samples of all the in-patients for tests to the Public Health Institute (PHI). If required, we will send some to the National Institute of Virology in Victoria Hospital,” Dr. Aradhya said.

On Tuesday, the PHI confirmed that seven of the 21 samples sent for testing had tested positive for chikungunya. “But this does not mean that all the cases that we are receiving are confirmed chikungunya cases. With reports that the viral disease is spreading, there is panic. Even if they have fever, people think that they also have joint pain. There is no specialised treatment for chikungunya and the patients have to be treated for the symptoms,” a senior doctor at the Srirampuram Referral Hospital said.

BBMP health officials said they were continuing their cleaning drive in the affected areas.

“We urge the people to cooperate with us and keep their surroundings clean. The situation can be brought under control only if people actively involve themselves in our efforts,” an official said.

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