Kasargod (Kerala), May 8 (IANS) A suspected outbreak of chikungunya was reported from Kasargod district in Kerala Thursday. The cases were reported from Panathadi village, about 70 km from Kasargod district headquarters. The village borders Karnataka.

A health official at the district medical office said that about 130 suspected cases of chikungunya were reported from the village.

“The patients complained of fever and joint pain. We have sent some blood samples to the virology institute at Alleppey (in Kerala),” he said. The health department is carrying out intensive mosquito eradication work in the affected area.

Last year, some of the southern districts in Kerala witnessed an outbreak of chikungunya.

The disease is transmitted by the bite of aedes mosquitoes.