The Union Health Ministry will be allotting Rs four crore to Kerala state under the National Rural Health Mission to check the spread of chikungunya. The Centre is all geared up to tackle the issue and prevent it from spreading to other states.

Speaking at a function held in Chennai, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said, that the government was focusing on preventive measures to control the spread of the vector-borne disease.

He said that around 14 referral labs had been set up across the country for testing the prevalence of the disease. Virology kits had already been distributed to the village health and sanitation committees in Kerala, established under the NRHM.

An expert team from the centre comprising members from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and the Indian Council for Medical Research, had visited the affected areas 10 days ago for preventive measures. Stating that it was impossible to destroy the mosquitoes by going door-to-door Anbumani said that information, education and communication were important.

Speaking about providing funds to the States affected by Chikungunya, the Minister said that the State could convey the required amount to the centre and the amount would be sanctioned immediately.

He said that distribution of medical kits and fogging activities would be arranged in the affected areas. Meanwhile, the Kerala government has started conducting medical camps in the fever-hit areas comprising doctors from ayurveda, homoeo and allopathy.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, director of department of health services, Dr Kuttamani said that all necessary measures to prevent further outbreak of the disease and to control it were being taken by the government. All the fogging activities and steps to prevent water contamination were also happening in full swing.

In Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday alone 243 viral fever cases have been detected out of which 18 are suspected chikungunya cases. The army and navy medical teams have come to the state and are providing their services to control the disease.