Kodagu: Chikungunya suspected

Madikeri: Since the last 10 days, individuals of more than 30 families in Torenuru village near Kushalnagar have been suffering from fever and even though they attempted treatment for their ailment at Kodagu and Kushalnagar hospitals, the fever has not receded and instead increased.

Their blood test was conducted at a private lab in Kushalnagar and it is suspected that they might be suffering from chikungunya and the treatment is being given accordingly.

It is presumed that more than 80 residents of the village may be infected by the virus and hence, Health department staffs have come forward to visit the village, conducted tests and provide medication.

Although Torenadu village has a hospital, the lack of doctors here has compelled the patients to visit other hospitals for treatment. Kushalnagar hobli has more population but there is only one Medical Superintendent taking care of all the hospitals in Kudige, Hebbale, Shirangala areas. The doctors who were appointed on contract basis to the three centres in the 3 villages have gone somewhere else.