With the rise in the cases of chikungunya in the taluk, patients visiting private hospitals without adequate treatment at the government hospitals has been reported.

Chikungunya has re-surfaced in the district as blood samples of 8 patients were tested positive this month. The number is likely to go up as more than 50 suspected cases were reported from Sominakoppa, Hadonahalli, Bannikere and Kommanahal villages in the taluk.

Nagesh Prabhu

BANGALORE: Chikungunya, the viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has spread to 72 taluks in Karnataka causing concern among officials and doctors of the Health Department.

The people should maintain cleanliness in their surrounding areas and prevent stagnation of water in public places, suggested Zilla Panchayat President Srinivasulu.

Meanwhile, the number of suspected chikungunya cases continued to climb with the Public Health Centre in Kaval Byrasandra reporting 450 OPD cases per day.

Lady Curzon and Bowring Hospital is treating 40 suspected cases everyday while KC General Hospital reported 24 suspected cases on Tuesday.

Even as BBMP plans to issue notices to private doctors in DJ Halli for creating panic over chikungunya, two cases of the vector-borne disease have been confirmed at Bowring Hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Three blood samples - two from DJ Halli and one from KG Halli - have tested positive for chikungunya, according to the reports received by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday.

The number of confirmed chikungunya cases in the city in April alone, according to official reports, is now 12, and 32 samples have tested positive since January 2009.

The number of suspected Chikungunya patients has been increasing in and around D J Halli, Kaval Byrasandra and the surrounding areas.

These areas have more than 50 local clinics and nearly 40 persons are said to be suffering from Chikungunya.

On the whole 281 patients with fever have visited camps and hospitals for their dose of Paracetamol.

Suspect chikungunya cases are rising in DJ Halli area. On Sunday around 100 new patients were treated at the BBMP health camps and 28 new cases were reported at the DJ Halli Hospital. On the whole 281 patients with fever have visited camps and hospitals for their dose of Paracetamol.

Public Health Officials confirmed an outbreak of chikungunya and dengue in DJ Halli, revealing that a staggering 70 per cent of the residents in the area were affected by the vector-borne diseases.

Amongst the samples sent from the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kaval Byrasandra, two tested positive for chikungunya and one for dengue.