The rains have arived in Kerala, bringing along with them vector-borne diseases.
At least 40,000 people, mostly in central and southern districts of the state, have already been hospitalised with symptoms of Chikungunya.  Health officials put the death toll from Chikungunya, spanning the three districts of Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam, at 40.
However, Health Minister P K Sreemathi said the disease had been detected in only 7,000 people. The virus is spread through mosquito-bite and causes a non-fatal self-limiting illness, marked by high fever, headache, severe joint pain, rashes and nausea. Experts have said that the disease turns fatal for mostly older people.