WHO - Chikungunya Outbreak News

Between 28 March 2005 and 12 February 2006, 1 722 cases of chikungunya have been notified by physicians from a sentinel network in La Réunion, including 326 cases reported during the week 6 to 12 February. Estimations from a mathematical model indicate that 110 000 people may have been infected by chikungunya virus since March 2005 in La Réunion, including 22 000 persons during the week 6 to 12 February. During the first week of February, other countries in the south west Indian Ocean have reported cases: Mauritius (206 cases) and the Seychelles (1 255 cases).


From Who.int.

A Summary

PATHOGENICITY: Self limiting febrile viral disease; characterized by arthralgia or arthritis typically in the knee, ankle and small joints of the extremities, high fever, followed by a maculopapular rash; buccal and palatal enanthema can occur; nausea and vomiting may occur; mild hemorrhaging may be present especially in children; inapperent infections are common, immunity is long lasting.
HOST RANGE: Humans, primates, other mammals, birds

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By bite of an infective mosquito

COMMUNICABILITY: No evidence of person-to-person transmission

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No antiviral available to date.

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Sensitive to 70% ethanol, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, Sensitive to lipid solvents
Read more.

First Characterization Of Chikungunya Viruses From Indian Ocean Outbreak

From: Public Library of Science & BioCompare

Since late 2004, a large outbreak of chikungunya fever in the Indian Ocean has caused a public health crisis and alarmed international experts. A team of scientists led by Sylvain Brisse (of the Pasteur Institute) now reports the first molecular data on the viruses involved in the outbreak in the international open-access journal PLoS Medicine

The report states that up to a third of the population of of Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Réunion are infected with also several states of India seeing cases.

The article continues:

The disease is caused by the chikungunya virus, which is spread to humans by mosquito bites. It was first described in Tanzania in 1952 and has since been found in Africa, India, and South East Asia. The name is derived from a local Tanzanian word meaning "that which bends up", a reference to the stooped posture many patients develop as a result of painful inflammation of the joints commonly associated with the disease. Other symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, and a skin rash. There is no specific treatment available. Most patients get better after a few days, but the pain in the joints can persist for long after the other symptoms have disappeared.

The authors note, the mosquitoes that transmit the Chikungunya virus in Africa and Asia are not limited to these areas--in fact they are the same ones that transmit yellow fever and dengue fever in many parts of the world--which raises the possibility that the chikungunya virus could spread and cause disease elsewhere.

230 Chikungunya Cases Reported in Belgaum Area

Although it appears that Chickungunya is falling in other areas, it looks like it's spreading fast in Belgaum district NewIndPress reports.

As many as 230 people are said to be suffering from Chickungunua in the villages of Ramdurg, Bailhongal, Gokak, Khanapur, Chikkodi and Athani.

The District Health Officer, Dr P A Pattanshetti, has stated that the disease is under control in Telsang now as medical teams were sent in.

A Homeopathic Cure?

The New India Press talks of the assertion of Dr A N Sundaresh from the Homepathy Medical Association of India.

At the moment there appears to be no cure to this contagious disease in traditional medicine, only the control of symptoms is offered.

Sundaresh said that homeopathy can help fight against the disease with Eupatorium, Rustax, Pyrogenium and Gelsemium being the most effective.

We would never believe we have the knowledge to recommend any treatment so make sure you seek informed medical advice.