Shrinidhi Karje/Newindpress
 
Mangalore, Apr 22: The worst fears came true, with six cases testing positive for chikungunya.

Thirty-nine blood samples in the first batch, collected from Sullia and Puttur, were sent to Bangalore Virology Department for confirmation of the outbreak of the dreaded chikungunya fever.

Upto April 15, over 530 cases of high fever had been registered as susp ected chikungunya cases in both Puttur and Sullia.

From April 15, the number of suspected cases increased, taking the tally to 806. A whopping 733 suspected cases were detected in Sullia taluk alone. The remaining 73 cases were detected in Puttur.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Jagannath told this website's newspaper that 100 rapid chikungunya test kits, which facilitate the immediate detection of the disease, had been delivered to the districts by the government.

He said: “We have already received the kits and are at present using them intensively.” Out of 806 suspected cases, 420 were female and 386 male victims.

Dr Jagannath said, “We have sent the additional samples to Bangalore for confirmation of chikungunya. Bangalore is the nearest centre available.”

He informed this website's newspaper Express that the DHO has taken precautionary measures to control the spread of chikungunya.

There are already three mobile ambulances, nine doctors, 14 para medical staff and nine vehicles pressed into service specifically for diagnosis and treatment of those affected by the fever.