From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa

Margao, Aug 16: Gawallis (milkmen) of the Gawlliwada-Fatorda area are facing a huge loss of 12 thousand per day, as their daily customers have refused to buy milk from them, with the locality facing the fear of Chikunguniya disease.
 
There are around 30 milkmen in the area. Around 600 litres milk is supplied by them in the area of Margao and Fatorda. But from the day the news broke about the Chikungunya case found in this milkmen area, people have feared that the virus would catch through their activities, people have stopped buying milk from them.
 
"A local newspaper carried story saying that Chikungunya had affected us. But the said disease is under scanner, as health official has taken blood samples and the report is awaited. We hope if the report comes negative, media will cover it also, or we will lose our business which is being carried on for generations," said Narsiv Gawalli, a milkman. 
 
Though a woman who arrived here as visitor showed smptoms of Chikungunya disease, so far it is not proved. Around 15 people were suffering from the fever, mostly the Gawallis. For which people are afraid to buy the milk from them.
 
As these milkmen are facing the loss, they have decided to apprise local MLA Damodar Naik of the problem so that a solution can be worked out.