Union Health Minister visits chikungunya-hit areas in Kerala

For an immediate evaluation of the situation, the Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss started his visit of the chikungunya- affected areas in Kerala’s Alapuzha district on Friday.

The highest number of deaths in the past 3 weeks has been reported from Cherthala Taluk. Ramadoss visited the hospitals in this area. Experts from WHO and national institutes are in the region for the past 3 days. The minister will observe their opinion and have a discussion on the situation with the state health authorities.

Chikungunya has taken 81 lives in the state. However, the Union Health Minister had stated that chikungunya had caused no deaths in the country while Kerala was fighting the disease. The Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan strongly opposed his declaration. He was surprised at Ramadoss’ statement and said that he didn’t know on what basis Ramadoss made such a declaration. He also wanted Prime Minister to control his ministers from making such declarations.

A huge sanitation drive, particularly in the Alappuzha district that has canal and pools that provide breeding area for the mosquitoes, has been decided by the all-party meet on Wednesday.

Source-Medindia
GYT