The Kerala government is contemplating to implement a new way of treatment for the thousands of victims of a mysterious disease caused by the pesticide endosulfan which has already claimed the life of a 19-year-old girl in Kasargod district in the state and  is extending to nearby districts.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai on Sunday, Kerala state health minister P K Sreemathi also said that in future the government will not allow using endosulfan anywhere in the state.

When asked what kind of treatment is in the pipeline, the minister said both allopathic and ayurvedic methods will be used to counter the spread of mysterious diseases in the district. The doctors who visit the houses of patients after diagnosing them will decide what kind of treatment should be given. Both the systems will be used, but their introduction will be in a different way. Minister said a mobile medical unit is already functioning in the area with all facilities. The Union health ministry was also informed of the latest reports, the minister said.

Last week, the pesticide endosulfan has claimed the life of a 19-year-old girl in the district.  The recent reports from Kerala show that the mysterious disease due to endosulfan has extended to nearby districts.

Meanwhile, the International Foundation for Ayurvedic Research and Training Trust based at Kaladi in Ernakulam district has also approached the state health ministry for its sanction to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate the people exposed to this pesticide endosulfan by applying a new version of the ayurvedic method of treatment.  To treat the affected people, whose number has gone beyond 4000,  the Ayurvedic Trust has formed a project called 'Sanjeevani Project", according to Dr R Raghavan, the trust chairman, who has mastered both in Indian Systems and Modern Medicines.

The doctor said neuro-behavioural disorders, congenital malformations, epilepsy, loss of eye-eight and various types of skin diseases are the symptoms generally found in the children of the area. About 11 Panchayats in the district have the ill-effects caused by this insecticide.

The health minister of Kerala said there is no shortage of medicines in any of the hospitals in the state and the age old Thiruvananthapuram Medical College will be renovated soon.