Army to help fight chikungunya outbreak in Kerala

The Kerala Government today called in the Army to cope with the outbreak of chikungunya in the state. The Government also...

The Kerala Government today called in the Army to cope with the outbreak of chikungunya in the state. The Government also announced free ration for a month in the affected areas. It had yesterday conceded that about 7,000 people in the state had been hit by chinkungunya.

Responding to an SOS from State Health Minister PK Sreemathy, Defence Minister AK Antony has directed army units in Chennai and Secunderabad to move to Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and other key affected districts.

The Army teams are expected to lead the vector control and sanitation programmes in the worst-hit parts from Tuesday, sorely needed to help combat the crisis with an assorted cocktail of pre-monsoon afflictions including dengue, malaria and rat fever now being reported from many parts of the state as well. A small army team from Thiruvanantapuram has already begun the spadework in some of the affected areas.

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The Cabinet today decided to release all required funds to combat the threat and an all-party meeting endorsed support to all government initatives.

However, with the monsoon yet to set in fully and public hygiene and sanitation suddenly assuming critical importance, even the northern part of the state, which was relatively free from the menace till lately, has now begun reporting outbreaks.

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