35 fresh cases of Chikungunya reported in Kerela

Kerela on Tuesday reported 35 fresh cases of Chikungunya, as thousands of patients with crippling fever flocked hospitals.

Kottayam/Trivandrum (Kerala), June 19 : Kerela on Tuesday reported 35 fresh cases of Chikungunya, as thousands of patients with crippling fever flocked hospitals.

State-run hospitals in Kottayam District witnessed long queues of patients with symptoms of the disease.

K. N. Manmathan, District Medical Officer, said that Kottayam recorded over a hundred thousand patients.

"The total number of fever cases are 1,89,427. Out of this number of suspected Chikungunya patient is 8365, confirmed ones are 35, and number of combined cases of Chikungunya and Dengue is two. This is the position of Chikungunya outbreak in Kottayam district," said Manmathan.

Meanwhile, the State's Health Minister P. K. Sreemathi said Chikungunya exacerbated medical conditions in patients causing their deaths.

"There were deaths due to brain fever, heart attack or diabetes. So, Chikungunya was the immediate cause of deaths to several people, who had other medical histories also. They would have survived by medication if not affected by Chikungunya," she told reporters at a news conference in Trivandrum.

Kerela has been under the grip of Chikungunya, with thousands being admitted daily to hospitals mainly in central and eastern parts of the State.

The outbreak of the disease is a follow up of the southwest monsoon, which hit Kerala coast last month.

Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum and Idukki Districts are the worst hit.

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

The State Government has confirmed 300,000 cases of Chikungunya, besides several cases of dengue and rat-fever. 23 people have died of the disease so far.

ANI