KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur Sept 27: Eight cases of Chikungunya have been detected in the East Singhbhum district, sending the district health department officials into a tizzy.
The spell of the Chikungunya in so many numbers has come up after a decade when this viral fever had taken almost an alarming proportion in the district in the year 2011.
District civil surgeon, AK Lal said the cases of Chikungunya were detected during the test of dengue at MGM Medical College’s lab during the past 48 hours.
“Blood samples for detection of suspected dengue patients from the hospitals in the steel city had come to the viral disease research lab (VDRL) of the MGM medical college. In the lab test report, eight cases of Chikungunya have been detected, ” said Lal.
The civil surgeon pointed out six positive Chikungunya patients are from the East Singhbhum district, whereas two are outsiders.
“As Chikungunya is caused due to the mosquito bite from an infected person, we are trying to carry out the necessary control measures by activating the health department machinery, ” said Lal.
Moreover, district dermatologist, Dr Mohammed Ashad said though they have received eight cases of Chikungunya from the MGM medical college’s VDRL, the patients in question do not have the clinical symptoms of Chikungunya in them.
“Cases of Chikungunya were detected in the course of testing of blood samples taken for the detection of dengue. Though the lab test report from the MGM confirmed eight blood samples to be tested as Chikungunya positive, none of these patients has the symptoms of Chikungunya. But as the lab report suggests it to be Chikungunya, we consider it to be the same, ” said Asad.
The district dermatologist said in the cases of Chikungunya, a patient suffers from fever and acute joints pain.
“Though the Chikungunya is not a life threatening disease, the joint pain which comes along the fever happens to be very painful and lasts for a couple of months, ” said Asad, adding that the health department has intensified the investigation.
