Ramadoss to discuss Chikungunya with health ministers of nine states tomorrow

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, has called a meeting of health ministers of nine states tomorrow to discuss the measures to be taken to control the mosquito-borne disease, Chikungunya.

New Delhi, June 20 : Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, has called a meeting of health ministers of nine states tomorrow to discuss the measures to be taken to control the mosquito-borne disease, Chikungunya.

The Health Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Delhi are expected to attend the meeting, a ministry official said.

The Ministers would also discuss Central assistance, both technical and monetary, to the affected states to contain the disease.

So far, 400 people have been reportedly affected with the viral disease, even though over 11,000 suspected cases have surfaced in the country.

Kerala has so far reported forty deaths from Chikungunya, on Tuesday, 35 fresh cases of the crippling disease surfaced in the State. Over 7000 are admitted in hospitals mainly in the two districts of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam.

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

The disease broke out after the southwest monsoon hit Kerala coast early this month.

The disease has spread near rubber plantations where farmers use plastic cups and coconut shells to collect rubber milk and leave it open, making it a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

A team of experts from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi has already visited the state to take stock of the situation.

ANI