The Hindu

Mangalore, Oct 17: Chikungunya is spreading fast in Mangalore. There have been a large number of cases of patients visiting doctors complaining of fever and joint pains.

Chikungunya is not fatal, but it causes a lot of discomfort to the patient.

People in Kudroli, Kadri and areas around water bodies in the city and on its outskirts have been reporting symptoms of chikungunya.

Some of the areas where malaria is endemic in the city are also reporting cases of chikungunya.

The Health Department officials do have exact information about chikungunya cases. According to sources, there have been at least three known cases of the disease in the city. However, there could be more cases as people would have taken treatment in private nursing homes and clinics in the city as well as in the district.

The Health Department of Mangalore City Corporation, which is already battling the spread of malaria, is now faced with a new challenge in chikungunya.

Officials point out that more or less the factors that determine the spread of malaria also contributes to the spread of chikungunya.

Health officials have asked people not to allow water to stagnate as it could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In view of the boom in the constructing activity, the task has become difficult. About 6,000 houses are under construction. The corporation has circulated handouts to builders to provide workers in labour camps mosquito nets.