Tamil Nadu government has decided to distribute a traditional Siddha herbal concoction, nilavembu kudineer, free of cost. The Central Council for Research in Siddha, working under the Ministry of AYUSH, has stated that the concoction works not just for treating the disease but also to prevent it.

The state government is distributing the liquid using mobile units and government units. The government hospitals have been instructed to ensure proper hydration of all fever patients by keeping ready nilavembu kudineer, ORS, kanji (gruel). Special medical teams have been dispatched to the vulnerable districts such as Salem, Dharmapuri and Tiruvannamalai. The AYUSH ministry has also stated that the concoction can prevent and treat chikungunya.

Tamil Nadu health minister Dr. C. Vijayabaskar recently mentioned that Nilavembu is a proven medicine, and has been tested in King Institute in Guindy. It increases the platelets and immunity. Although neither the results of the test nor from the clinical trials have been made publicly available by the state itself.