http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/28/stories/2006052802441100.htm
Nagesh Prabhu
It has spread to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh; official count in Karnataka is 1.55 lakh affected
BANGALORE : Chikungunya, the viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is sweeping through Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Thousands have been infected in the last three months.
The official count of the affected has climbed to a staggering 1.55 lakh in Karnataka. Health Department officials conceded that the figure might be higher. The disease has also spread to Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
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. But it claimed three lives in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, a couple of days ago.According to the World Health Organisation, besides India, Chikungunya has been reported from the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte, Mauritius and Seychelles since January 2006.
In Karnataka, it has spread from the northern districts to Malnad and the southern districts. Over 1.5 lakh cases were reported from 93 taluks spread over 20 districts as on March 23, 2006. The number of people suspected to have been infected last month was 78,175 in 61 taluks of 15 districts, showing a rise in the incidence.
The southern districts, which have reported Chikungunya cases are Bangalore Rural (2305) and Bangalore Urban (209), Tumkur (25,673), Kolar (3793), Chikmagalur (1037) and Shimoga (1322). Symptoms of the disease are a sudden onset of chillness, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain. Most patients recover in four-six days but a few suffer joint pain for months. No vaccine is now available. Officials have asked people to protect themselves from mosquito bites during daytime and destroy tins, cans, drums, discarded tyres and other containers, as water collected in them would facilitate the breeding of the mosquitoes.
During the pre-monsoon period, large-scale breeding takes place when households store water in cement tanks, drums, barrels and air-coolers, which are not cleaned regularly.
It has been noted that the people of Tumkur and Kolar districts are not adhering to the preventive measures advised by the health department. A large number of families breed cocoons in their houses and oppose indoor and outdoor fogging by the Department staff saying the cocoons would perish.
Nagesh Prabhu
It has spread to Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh; official count in Karnataka is 1.55 lakh affected
BANGALORE : Chikungunya, the viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is sweeping through Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Thousands have been infected in the last three months.
The official count of the affected has climbed to a staggering 1.55 lakh in Karnataka. Health Department officials conceded that the figure might be higher. The disease has also spread to Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
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. But it claimed three lives in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, a couple of days ago.According to the World Health Organisation, besides India, Chikungunya has been reported from the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte, Mauritius and Seychelles since January 2006.
In Karnataka, it has spread from the northern districts to Malnad and the southern districts. Over 1.5 lakh cases were reported from 93 taluks spread over 20 districts as on March 23, 2006. The number of people suspected to have been infected last month was 78,175 in 61 taluks of 15 districts, showing a rise in the incidence.
The southern districts, which have reported Chikungunya cases are Bangalore Rural (2305) and Bangalore Urban (209), Tumkur (25,673), Kolar (3793), Chikmagalur (1037) and Shimoga (1322). Symptoms of the disease are a sudden onset of chillness, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain. Most patients recover in four-six days but a few suffer joint pain for months. No vaccine is now available. Officials have asked people to protect themselves from mosquito bites during daytime and destroy tins, cans, drums, discarded tyres and other containers, as water collected in them would facilitate the breeding of the mosquitoes.
During the pre-monsoon period, large-scale breeding takes place when households store water in cement tanks, drums, barrels and air-coolers, which are not cleaned regularly.
It has been noted that the people of Tumkur and Kolar districts are not adhering to the preventive measures advised by the health department. A large number of families breed cocoons in their houses and oppose indoor and outdoor fogging by the Department staff saying the cocoons would perish.