MITHI: The entire population — about 250 souls — of Pachhado-jo-Par village, 15 kilometres from Chhachhro town, have fallen victim to a viral disease with symptoms similar to chikungunya.

The affected villagers told journalists on Thursday that they started falling sick one after the other after a young boy suffering from a viral disease arrived in the village from Karachi a few days back.

Over 80 people had been taken to Chhachhro rural health centre (RHC) in serious condition over the past six days with complaints of high fever, pain in joints, swelling of muscles, rashes etc, they said.

Dr Lekhraj, member of a team sent to the village by Tharparkar district health office, feared the villagers might be infected with chikungunya virus. However, samples had been taken from the affected persons and were being sent to Karachi to ascertain the nature of the viral infection, he said.

Haji Qamaruddin Rahimoon, chairman of Chhachhro town committee, said the functionaries concerned had failed to provide any relief to the patients.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2017