|
|
|
Chikungunya fever, Reunion, Mayotte, Seychelles and Mauritius
5 March 2006
French authorities estimate that more than 150,000 people have been infected with chikungunya virus since the outbreak started in March 2005. 333 cases were reported the week from the 13 to the 19 February.
Between 28 March 2005 and 19 February 2006, 2406 cases of chikungunya have been notified by the 31 physicians from a sentinel network on Reunion.
Since the beginning of January 2006, other countries in the southwest Indian Ocean have reported chikungunya cases: Mayotte (924 cases) Mauritius (2553 cases including 1173 lab-confirmed cases) and the Seychelles (4650 cases).
Sources: WHO, 1 March 2006 and Observatoire Regional de la Sante de La Reunion
Comment
Chikungunya virus is endemic in Africa and Southeast Asia. The virus is transmitted by the same mosquito which transmits yellow fever. The incubation period is usually 2 to 3 days, and the symptoms are fever, joint paints, muscle paints, conjunctivitis. A rash is sometimes seen 2 to 3 days after the start of the fever and small bleedings are sometimes seen in the skin and the eyes.
The symptoms are very much like dengue fever.
There is no vaccine against chikungunya virus, and the only protection is to avoid mosquito bites.
|
|
|
|
|
