Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Mysterious disease? in Sangolikuppam
A.V. Ragunathan
Medical team makes daily visit
500 villagers have fallen sick in the past 10 days
Diagnosed as viral fever after blood tests
CUDDALORE: The sudden outbreak of a ?mysterious disease? in Sangolikuppam village near here has left the residents a worried lot, as over 500 villagers have fallen sick in the past 10 days.
They suffer from symptoms of fever, vomiting and body ache. On information, a medical team headed by Deputy Director (Health services) D. Meera went to the village and screened the patients.
Dr. Meera told The Hindu that initially, on an average, 20-25 cases were reported very day, but the number had now come down to five. She categorically said that the ailment was neither chikungunya nor malaria as feared.
The team had collected blood smears and so far conducted 50 blood tests and diagnosed it as a viral fever. It was the general characteristic of viral fever to spread fast.
However, owing to sustained medical treatment given to the residents, the incidence had come down to a great extent and the situation was under control, Dr. Meera said.
As a preventive measure, the spots in which water stagnated were sprayed with anti-larvae substances and fogging undertaken at other places. The team was making a daily trip to the village to attend on the patients, she said.
A section of the residents raised doubts over the unprecedented spread of the infectious disease. They alleged that the health problem surfaced ever since a newly established unit in the nearby SIPCOT Industrial Estate went on stream.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/25/stories/2009102552320300.htm
A.V. Ragunathan
Medical team makes daily visit
500 villagers have fallen sick in the past 10 days
Diagnosed as viral fever after blood tests
CUDDALORE: The sudden outbreak of a ?mysterious disease? in Sangolikuppam village near here has left the residents a worried lot, as over 500 villagers have fallen sick in the past 10 days.
They suffer from symptoms of fever, vomiting and body ache. On information, a medical team headed by Deputy Director (Health services) D. Meera went to the village and screened the patients.
Dr. Meera told The Hindu that initially, on an average, 20-25 cases were reported very day, but the number had now come down to five. She categorically said that the ailment was neither chikungunya nor malaria as feared.
The team had collected blood smears and so far conducted 50 blood tests and diagnosed it as a viral fever. It was the general characteristic of viral fever to spread fast.
However, owing to sustained medical treatment given to the residents, the incidence had come down to a great extent and the situation was under control, Dr. Meera said.
As a preventive measure, the spots in which water stagnated were sprayed with anti-larvae substances and fogging undertaken at other places. The team was making a daily trip to the village to attend on the patients, she said.
A section of the residents raised doubts over the unprecedented spread of the infectious disease. They alleged that the health problem surfaced ever since a newly established unit in the nearby SIPCOT Industrial Estate went on stream.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/25/stories/2009102552320300.htm