By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Health officials in Thailand issued a warning on the need to take precautions against chikungunya fever as hundreds of cases are still being reported. Between January 1 and September 23 this year, 7,704 cases have been reported from 51 of Thai provinces, up from 7,481 cases one week prior.
Pattani, Ranong, Tak, Phuket and Songkhla provinces continue to report the highest incidence of the mosquito-borne infection in the country.
No deaths have been reported.
Preventive measures against chikungunya and other mosquito-borne viruses like dengue and Zika viruses include clearing garbage around households; covering all water and food containers; and removing waste water where mosquitoes can breed, around the home, said Dr. Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai.
Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus of the alphavirus genus (Togaviridae family) transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The word, Chikungunya, translates to “that which bends up”, based on the stooped position of patients during the rheumatic symptoms of the disease.
In humans bitten by an infected mosquito, the disease symptoms usually appear after an incubation period of three to seven days (range 1- 12 days).
CHIKV can cause acute, sub-acute, and chronic disease.
In acute disease, symptoms develop abruptly and include high fever, headache, myalgia and arthralgia (predominantly in limbs and large joints). The appearance of a maculopapular rash is also frequent. Severe forms of the disease are rare. Symptoms usually resolve in 7-10 days, although arthralgia and joint stiffness may persist intermittently for several months.
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.
Typhoid fever: Taiwan reports 1st imported XDR typhoid in traveler to Pakistan
African swine fever: New outbreaks in China, South Korea and the Philippines
Nepal reports dengue and scrub typhus outbreaks
Thailand reports 14 measles deaths in 2019 to date, Dengue cases near 90K
Burkholderia cepacia cluster in Hong Kong: Scores affected
Polio in the Philippines: Laguna boy is 2nd case, DOH & Rotary ink agreement
