THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, 10 June 2007 — The Indian Army and Navy have deployed medical teams in the southern state of Kerala after over 50 people died there of vector-borne diseases last week.
According to official estimates, nearly half a million people have been affected by viral fever since the monsoon set in last week. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the death toll could go up.
Kerala Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy sought the help of Defense Minister A. K. Antony who immediately ordered the military to send medical aid.
An all-party meeting has decided to launch a sanitation drive to check epidemics, such as chikungunya and dengue fever. “I have requested all government officials, the forces, scouts and guides, students, political parties and nongovernmental organizations to take part in the campaign,” the chief minister said.
More than 100 chikungunya deaths were reported in Alappuzha district last year. This year, most of the deaths were reported from Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.
Doctors said the mosquito-borne fever was not the primary cause of death. “Rubber plantations have become the breeding ground for mosquitoes since the monsoon showers began. Most of the cases came from these areas,” Dr. Thomas Philip, the superintendent of the government hospital in Pathanamthitta, said.
More than 125,000 cases were reported in Kottayam district, mainly from towns with large tracts of rubber plantations.
The health minister said she could not rule out that the deaths were not from chikungunya. “We are waiting for the report from the federal team which visited six districts. Only after getting the report can we confirm whether the deaths occurred due to chikungunya,” Sreemathy said.
