Health officials in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines province of Misamis Oriental, are warning the public that the mosquito borne viral disease, chikungunya, is being reported in the city.
Dr. Joey Retuya, epidemiologist of the City Health and Sanitation Clinic, the disease was detected in Barangay Mambuaya, wherein 79 cases were positive. In the training center of police officers in Gusa, nine out of 44 cases were also found positive, he cited.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It can cause high fever, join and muscle pain, and headache. The joint pain may last for months or years and may become a cause of chronic pain and disability.
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya infection, nor any vaccine to prevent it. Pending the development of a new vaccine, the only effective means of prevention is to protect individuals against mosquito bites.
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