Many parts of Kerala are reeling under the impact of viral fever, including chikungunya, with the problem spreading to new areas where patients are pouring into hospitals to seek treatment.
Reports from the across the state said a large number of patients came to hospitals in the northern districts today even as health authorities were grappling to contain the situation in central Travnacore region, which has been in the grip of viral fever for over two months.
According to official sources, the Centre has provided Rs 5.5 crore to the state to tackle the situation. An team of experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research is expected in the state shortly for more investigations.
Besides fresh cases, secondary infections, relapses and new kinds of external manifestations like red patches on skin and swelling of limbs had been reported from the worst-hit Pathanamthitta district, where the problem is reported to be severe in the eastern farm belt.
About 1,300 people came to hospitals in Alappuzha district today, of which 10 were suspected chikungunya cases. About 6,000 people in Ernakulam and another 2,000 people in Kozhikode came to hospitals seeking treatment.
The state health department will start special medical camps in six districts from tomorrow.
In affected areas, working class families are living on support from the state like free rations as it would take months for victims to recover and return to work, officials said.