MP turns its back on chikungunya

8220;Investigation was needed to know the virus. Once we got to know that we had chikungunya cases, there was no point in sending more samples8221;

Madhya Pradesh has denied the prevalence of dengue even as its neighbouring states have reported cases but an earlier crisis is far from over. Contrary to claims by authorities that no chikungunya cases have been reported since August, private doctors in the districts say patients continue to come in though the state has stopped sending samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for investigation.

Among the worst-hit in the chikungunya outbreak was Chhindwara. Authorities say the district has 8220;no cases8221; of the disease any more, a claim contested by local doctors. A visit to the nearby villages and the district hospital proves a different story is unfolding.

8220;Who says there are no cases of chikungunya in the district? I am a doctor and have been suffering from the disease for the past three days now. The authorities are lying, how can I diagnose myself wrong? In my family, two of us are down with chikungunya. The number of patients has dipped but everyday, at least 10-20 patients come in,8221; said Dr RK Chadda, a private practitioner.

8220;We are still getting cases of chikungunya. The symptoms are clear and there is no reason to get confused. We are not giving antibiotics to those down with fever associated with pain in joints but cases with the same symptoms are still coming,8221; said Dr BL Sharma, another doctor.

Authorities, however, claim they have curbed the outbreak. 8220;We have been able to control the disease and do not have even a single case now. We are happy that we could control it effectively as the efforts put in by the authorities were timely,8221; says district collector Arun Kumar Pandey.

At the district hospital too, patients with chikungunya-like symptoms come in everyday but authorities deny the cases. 8220;They are all suffering from a viral fever; we can8217;t say if it8217;s chikungunya until it8217;s investigated,8221; says Dr Ajay Mohan Verma, a senior doctor on duty.

In Ramgarhi village, 15 km off Chhindwara, Som Lal 35 complains of unrelenting pain in the joints over the past few days. The local doctor has diagnosed chikungunya. 8220;All in my family have gone through this disease, now it has affected me as well. I cannot even walk,8221; he says. Ghat Prasia, 13 km from Chhindwara, is no different. Forty-year-old Batiya Bai is in the second stage of chikungunya. 8220;While the fever has subsided, the pain in joints still persists,8221; she says.

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The state, meanwhile, has stopped sending samples to NIV, Pune. Of the 11,000 suspected cases from the district, only 25 samples were sent. The CMO defends the decision. 8220;The investigation was needed to know the virus. Once we got to know that we had chikungunya cases in our district, there was no point in sending more samples,8221; says Chhindwara CMO Dr JS Gogia.