Madurai declared ‘vulnerable’ to chikungunya

Steps initiated to prevent water stagnation and mosquito breeding in residential areas

Health Department officials on Monday declared Madurai city “vulnerable” to chikungunya in view of suspected cases being reported from suburban areas.

While the authorities maintained that there was no confirmed case of chikungunya so far from Madurai, they said that serum samples of eight persons suffering from fever, swelling of legs and severe body pains were sent to the Microbiology Department of the Madurai Medical College for tests.

“The city is under surveillance for chikungunya as the risk for this vector-borne disease is high now as people have started storing water at homes. Water stagnation and storage will lead to breeding of

aedes mosquito which is the carrier,” said Madurai District Malaria Officer R. Varadharajan.

Close vigil

He said health inspectors had been asked to keep a close vigil in vulnerable areas such as Chinthamani, Virattipathu and Vilachery.

Refuting reports of chikungunya outbreak in Madurai as yet, Dr. Varadharajan said that people had to take precautions to ensure that water did not stagnate in their localities/residential areas.

The test results of eight suspected cases were expected in a day or two after which further course of action would be taken by health officials.

Madurai Corporation City Health Officer Yasodha Mani said that anti-larval measures and fogging operations had been launched in different parts of the city to eliminate mosquito-breeding sources.

“As of now, it appears that the suspected cases are only viral fever but not chikungunya. Symptomatic treatment is being given and we are monitoring the fever cases,” she said.