Govt says no deaths due to chikungunya

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has finally ruled out chikungunya as the cause of over 100 deaths in Kerala, even as 236 new dengue cases were reported nation-wide today. The total number of dengue cases now stands at 4,039, with Delhi accounting for 1,101 cases.

Ramadoss has announced an assistance of two crore rupees to each of the ten states including Kerala which are affected by the disease.

Ramadoss made the announcements after a meeting with health ministers of 10 states and Union Territories affected by chikungunya here today. These included Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Andamans.

"There has been no deaths reported due to chikungunya in the country. When I visited Kerala, I found that 70 per cent of those who have died had some other ailments like TB, cancer or a cardiac problem," Ramadoss told reporters.

Kerala Health Minister Srimati said that she would be demanding a package of Rs 30 crore to tackle the ravage caused by vector borne diseases in the state.

Meanwhile, chikungunya cases continued to be reported from all parts of the country including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi. While there were over 4,000 cases in the islands, there were 21 so far in Delhi. The total number of chikungunya cases all over the country has crossed 13 lakh.

Meanwhile, dengue cases continued to climb with 70 new cases in Delhi taking the total to 709. With 14 new cases in the neighbouring region, the combined total went to 1,101 from yesterday's 1,029.

Delhi reported another death taking the toll to 22 today. Nation-wide, there were 84 deaths as of today while the cases climbed from 3,803 to 4,039, ministry of health and family welfare said.