Kerala Government Sanctions Funds for Chikungunya-affected Districts

The Kerala Government has sanctioned funds for districts affected by the crippling Chikungunya fever in a bid to curtail the deadly virus.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said that ten million rupees have been granted to the affected districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta to fight the disease.

He also disclosed that other districts will be given rupees 500,000 to procure fogging machines, medicines, mosquito nets and other requirements.

The Central Government has already granted 40 million rupees to the affected districts in Kerala.

Over 40 people have died of the disease, while over 7,000 are admitted to hospitals, mainly in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.

Armed forces’ doctors and paramedics have also joined in the efforts to control the situation after the State Government sought help to deal with the unprecedented situation.

Chikungunya virus is spread through mosquito-bite and causes a non-fatal self-limiting illness, marked by high fever, headache, severe joint pain, rashes and nausea.

The disease broke out after the southwest monsoon hit Kerala coast early this month.

The disease has spread near rubber plantations where farmers use plastic cups and coconut shells to collect rubber milk and leave it open, making it a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

Like dengue, another mosquito-borne disease, there is no vaccine for Chikungunya, and at best, symptoms can be countered through painkillers, intake of fluids and lot of rest.

Source-ANI
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