By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Health authorities in São Paulo state, Brazil are reporting a dramatic increase in chikungunya cases during the first six months of 2021.
Image/USDA
In less than 6 months, there were 7,600 recorded cases of the mosquitoborne illness, compared to only 254 cases in the whole year of 2020. This is an increase of some 2900 percent.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and Zika, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where they are common. As there is no cure, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
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