Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

[Jeremy]

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/10/stories/2006071007210400.htm
Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Staff Reporter
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Government claims steps have been taken to control the disease </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<HR color=lightblue noShade>2,86,201 people in 26 districts have been affected
Government rejects Opposition charge of slackness
Chikungunya cases are now being reported in South Karnataka as well <HR color=lightblue noShade>

Bangalore: Though the State Government claims to have taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of chikungunya, reports of its outbreak continue to pour in from different places.
As many as 2,86,201 people in 26 districts were affected by the disease as on June 26. The Health Department claims that the number of cases had come down.
The Opposition has faulted the coalition Government for its failure to deal with the situation. Members in the Legislative Assembly had expressed concern over the spread of the disease, forcing Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Ashok to make a statement.
However, the Minister rejected the Opposition charge. The Government had spent Rs. 4.25 crore for supply of medicines in the districts where the disease had broken out.
As many as 578 fogging machines had been used to "control" mosquitoes. The department also decided to buy 888 more fogging machines.
According to statistics, chikungunya has been reported in 2,860 villages affecting 2.86 lakh people. Gulbarga, Bidar, Bellary and Gadag districts have been the worst hit. Four official committees have been formed to monitor the situation.
Cases are now being reported in the districts of south Karnataka also.
The southern districts where chikungunya cases have been reported are Bangalore Rural (9,190), Bangalore Urban (2,863), Tumkur (34,312), Kolar (14,277), Chikmagalur (3,827) and Shimoga (13,853) as on June 26. But, the number of people afflicted by the disease in Bangalore Urban has risen to 6,950, according to Deputy Commissioner M.A. Sadiq.
However, not one case has been reported in Kodagu district. The Opposition urged that there was a need to tackle chikungunya on a war-footing as was done in the case of malaria.
The Government should allocate more funds and appoint doctors and paramedical personnel to treat the patients.
If steps were not taken, the disease would seriously affect the people in rural areas and render them jobless for at least a month, it said.
The Government held a meeting of chief executive officers of zilla panchayats and deputy commissioners of districts on Friday to monitor the situation and take steps to tackle the disease. Committees have been formed at district and taluk levels.
Victims of the disease suffer from sudden onset of chillness, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain.
Most patients recover in four to six days, but a few suffer joint pain for months.
In some cases, the limbs of the affected persons become so weak that it becomes difficult for them to walk. It has been noted that people in Bangalore Rural and Kolar districts are not following the preventive measures advised by the department.

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060711024532&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
Survey to control chikungunya in Davanagere
Tuesday July 11 2006 13:07 IST
<SMALL>DAVANAGERE: The city municipality formed 101 teams of nursing students to take up house to house survey of chikungunya affected people in Davanagere from July 10 to 16, said City Municipal Commissioner Pranalinga Shivasali.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the survey would be conducted on lines of pulse polio. The survey will get information on how many people were suffering chikungunya in a family. The survey will be taken up in 68,670 houses identified in the city. For effectively combating chikungunya, seven nodal officers are appointed with seven health centres in the city, he said.

Nodal officers are Assistant Executive Engineer Prasanna Kumar, co-ordinator, UNICEF-NOREAD Raghavendra Bhat, Slum Board Executive Engineer Mohan Kumar, Horticulture Deputy Director Siddappa, Nirmithi kendra Manager Rajappa, DUDA Commissioner Balakrishna, Pollution Control Board Environment Officer Lingaraju.

Seven health centres are: Bharath Colony, HKR Nagar, KR Market, Azadnagar, SM Krishnanagar, MCC B block. CG hospital will assist for the works.

Apart from this, the municipal administration will take up fogging twice a day in morning from 5.30 am to 7.30 am and in evening from 6.30 to 8.30 pm at municipal wards. Two small fogging machines each worth Rs 25,000 are also purchased to meet the demand, he said.</SMALL>

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/12/stories/2006071220030400.htm
Fish released into Madiwala Lake to control mosquitoes

Staff Reporter
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>BMP says it is a step to check spread of chikungunya </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<HR color=lightblue noShade>This is the second time that the BMP has released fish into tanks to eat mosquito larvae
Wells, tanks and small ponds are being cleaned up
2.86 lakh people affected by chikungunya in the State as on June 26 <HR color=lightblue noShade>

BANGALORE: Six thousand fish were released into the Madiwala Lake on Tuesday to control the mosquito causing chikungunya.
Guppy and Gambusia were released into Madiwala Lake by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to eat the mosquito larvae and help prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Second initiative

This is the second time that the BMP has taken up such an activity. A few years earlier, they released fish into the Ulsoor Lake and found that it had helped to bring down vector-borne diseases, said Manu Baligar, BMP Deputy Commissioner of Health.
Mr. Baligar said that the release of fish into the tanks was only one of the measures that the BMP had undertaken to control mosquitoes.
Fogging operation

He added that wells, tanks and small ponds were being cleaned up. Also, fogging and power spray were being undertaken in many wards.
Chikungunya is a viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Its symptoms include fever, redness of eyes and joint pain.
As many as 2,86,201 people in 26 districts of the State were affected by the disease as on June 26, 2006.
Till April this year, 1.2 lakh cases were reported by the State Health department.
In May 57,223 cases were reported and in June 11,381 cases were reported. There have been 2305 suspected cases from Bangalore (Rural) and 219 cases from Bangalore (Urban) so far.

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

As many as 2,86,201 people in 26 districts of the State were affected by the disease as on June 26, 2006.
Till April this year, 1.2 lakh cases were reported by the State Health department.
In May 57,223 cases were reported and in June 11,381 cases were reported.


​

I may not be a math wiz but at least I know that 120,000 + 57,223 + 11,381 does not equal 286,201.

Next time the BMP Deputy Commissioner of Health decides to release data he should have a kindergartner check the numbers he is releasing to assure accuracy.

The underreporting of Chikungunya is ridiculous across India.

 

[Commonground]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Thank you Jeremy for all of your work. I have been reading your updates, even though I am not replying.

 

[kent nickell]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

I just pulled this off Wikipedia:

Recent outbreaks
In February 2005, an outbreak was recorded on the French island of R?union in the Indian Ocean. As of May 18, 2006, 258,000 residents have been hit by the virus in the past year (out of a population of about 777,000). 219 official deaths have been associated with chikungunya [2].

In neighboring Mauritius, 3,500 islanders have been hit in 2005 [3]. There have also been cases in Madagascar, Mayotte and the Seychelles.

In 2006, there was a big outbreak in the Andhra Pradesh state in India. Nearly 200,000 people were affected by this disease in the districts of Praksham and Nellore in this state. Some deaths have been reported but it was thought to be due mainly to the inappropriate use of antibiotics and anti inflammatory tablets. As this virus can cause thrombocytopenia, injudicious use of these drugs can cause erosions in the gastric epithelium leading to exsangunating upper GI bleed (due to thrombocytopenia). On average there are around 5,300 cases being treated everyday. This figure is only from public sector. The figures from the private sector combined would be much higher.

There have been reports of large scale outbreak of this virus in Southern India. At least 80,000 people in Gulbarga, Tumkur, Bidar, Raichur, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar and Bijapur districts in Karnataka state are known to have been affected since December 2005 [4].

A separate outbreak of chikungunya fever was reported from Malegaon town in Nasik district, Maharashtra state, in the first two weeks of March 2006, resulting in over 2000 cases. In Orissa state, amost 5000 cases of fever with muscle aches and headache were reported between February 27 and March 5, 2006 [5].

In Bangalore, the state capital of Karnataka (India), there seems to be an outbreak of CHIK now (May 2006) with arthralgia/arthritis and rashes. So also in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. In the 3rd week of May 2006 the outbreak of Chikungunya in North Karnataka was severe. All the North Karnataka districts specially Gulbarga, Koppal, Bellary, Gadag, Dharwad were affected. The people of this region are hence requested to be alert. Stagnation of water which provides fertile breeding grounds for the vector (Aedes aegypti) should be avoided. The latest outbreak is in Tamil Nadu, India - 20,000 cases have been reported in June 2006. Earlier it was found spreading mostly in the outskirts of Bangalore, but now it has started spreading in the city also (Updated 30/06/2006). More that 300,000 people are affected in Karnataka as of July 2006 [6].

Reported on 29/06/2006, Chennai - fresh cases of this diesease has been reported in local hospitals. A heavy effect has been reflected in south TN districs like Nagercoil. Residents of Chennai are warned against the painful disease.

As of July 2006, nearly 50,000 people were affected in Salem, Tamil Nadu [7].

Analysis of the recent outbreak has suggested that the increased severity of the disease may be due to a change in the genetic sequence, altering the virus' coat protein, which potentially allows it to multiply more easily in mosquito cells [8].

 

[kent nickell]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Here is the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya_virus

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Commonground - Thank you.

Kent Nickell - In regards to the location in India that are affected by Chikungunya. You can basically take all of India below the Tropic of Cancer and say that it has Chikungunya or will have Chikungunya by the end of the summer.

Right now I have not been able to find many, if any, articles that are mentioning outbreaks north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060713021029&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
Poor performance of Health Department criticised
Thursday July 13 2006 12:31 IST
<SMALL>DAVANAGERE: Poor performance of Health Department in controlling chikungunya, laboratory technicians doing only work of Malaraia cases detection and vacant posts of doctors in district came in for criticism at KDP review meeting held here on Tuesday.

Zilla Panchayat Health Standing Committee Chairman Ramappa said lab technicians were only testing blood, urine and Malaria detection tests and no other tests were conducted like in other districts. Clarifying his queries DHO Dr Jayadevappa said there were not enough facilities in hospitals to conduct different tests.

To control chikungunya it had been decided to purchase a fogging machine for each Gram Panchayat, said CEO Puttabuddhi. For Grade I GPs fogging machines will be purchased in first phase, later for other GPs, CEO stated.

They sought more funds from the government for equipping government hospitals in district, said Standing Committee Chairmen Manjappa, Ramappa and Girigowda.

Regarding doctors appointment, District Health Officer said so far no application was received as the salary offered was low and due to contract system.</SMALL>

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/13/stories/2006071321940400.htm
BMP to hold chikungunya camp within eight days
Staff Reporter
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>There have been only two confirmed cases in our limits: BMP </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<HR color=lightblue noShade>

Other steps against chikungunya </BRIEF_HEAD>Anti-larval squads set up to ensure free flow of water in drains
Teams formed under 30 medical officers to take up fogging
Health check-up camps and educational programmes to be held in several wards
Awareness advertisements to be carried out in newspapers, radio and television
Tenders have been invited to procure more fogging machines


Bangalore: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will soon hold a health camp on chikungunya in all its dispensaries and maternity homes.
"The camp will be on the lines of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme and will be conducted within eight days," said M.P. Manu Baligar, Deputy Commissioner (Health).

More than two lakh cases of chikungunya have been reported in the State. However, the BMP on Wednesday claimed that there had been only two confirmed cases of chikungunya in its limits.

"Now, we have sent an additional 16 samples to the National Institute of Virology," said Chief Health Officer Vijayalakshmi.

As part of its efforts to prevent the spread of chikungunya, the BMP has imposed fines ranging between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 on owners of vacant lands who have left garbage or debris strewn on their plots.

The maximum fine had been imposed on a vacant plot owner at Basavanagudi, said corporator B.S. Satyanarayana.

As many as 12 lakes, including the one in Lalbagh and the Kempambudhi Tank, had been identified and fish such as Guppy and Gambusia, which ate mosquito larvae, would be let into them soon, said Mr. Baligar.

He also said that the city municipal councils, including Dasarahalli, were also being provided with fogging machines procured by the BMP on request.

Two paramedical staff had been suspended by the BMP for dereliction of duty in connection with the steps being taken to tackle chikungunya, Mr. Baligar said.
M. Muniraju, chairman of the Health Committee, said efforts to eradicate chikungunya would be a success only if the people cooperated with the BMP. "Water should not be allowed to remain stagnant as mosquito breeds in fresh water and debris should either be covered or disposed of properly," he said.

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

It should be recongnized that fogging machines have had zero (0) effect on controlling Chikungunya.

They failed on La Reunion and they have failed all over India.

Most likely this is due to the vector.

While I do not have all the recent data and zero sequences from India have been published and are accessible I am suggesting that there may be another vector besides the mosquito, possibly human.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Here in Florida I do not think foggers alone are effective. I believe there must be an aggressive campaign to treat water, swamp, stagnant water, etc. areas to kill larve. Are they doing this?

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

Florida1 - They have released fish into Madiwala Lake in Bangalore. But this is a bit of "too little too late". Furthermore this is the first article I have seen of any place in India even mentioning using fish to control the skeeters.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/12/stories/2006071220030400.htm

Fish released into Madiwala Lake to control mosquitoes
Staff Reporter
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#d0f0ff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>BMP says it is a step to check spread of chikungunya </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<HR color=lightblue noShade>This is the second time that the BMP has released fish into tanks to eat mosquito larvae
Wells, tanks and small ponds are being cleaned up
2.86 lakh people affected by chikungunya in the State as on June 26


BANGALORE: Six thousand fish were released into the Madiwala Lake on Tuesday to control the mosquito causing chikungunya.

Guppy and Gambusia were released into Madiwala Lake by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to eat the mosquito larvae and help prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

Second initiative

This is the second time that the BMP has taken up such an activity. A few years earlier, they released fish into the Ulsoor Lake and found that it had helped to bring down vector-borne diseases, said Manu Baligar, BMP Deputy Commissioner of Health.

Mr. Baligar said that the release of fish into the tanks was only one of the measures that the BMP had undertaken to control mosquitoes.

Fogging operation

He added that wells, tanks and small ponds were being cleaned up. Also, fogging and power spray were being undertaken in many wards.

Chikungunya is a viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Its symptoms include fever, redness of eyes and joint pain.

As many as 2,86,201 people in 26 districts of the State were affected by the disease as on June 26, 2006.

Till April this year, 1.2 lakh cases were reported by the State Health department.

In May 57,223 cases were reported and in June 11,381 cases were reported.
There have been 2305 suspected cases from Bangalore (Rural) and 219 cases from Bangalore (Urban) so far.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Chikungunya wreaking havoc in most parts of State

The fish idea is great, but in an emergency I think they should consider using backpack sprayers loaded with mosquito - icide.

http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/freshwet.htm#fresh


http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/freshwet.htm


I have seen this in Florida. While I know there are foggers here, I have never seen them used.

Plus, in a country where there is a large population that is impoverished, does it make sense to use people food to control an insect?