NewsDesk @bactiman63
The Uruguay Ministry of Public Health reports a chikungunya outbreak in the city of Paysandú. Health officials say Chikungunya virus infection was confirmed in people with no travel history residing in the city.
To date, the total number of cases is 7. All of them have had the disease on an outpatient basis with good prognosis.
This is the first time chikungunya virus circulation has bee reported in the city.
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According to the WHO, chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bites of mosquitoes infected with the chikungunya virus. It was first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952 and has now been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and, most recently, the Americas. Symptoms usually begin 4 to 8 days after a mosquito bite but can appear anywhere from 2 to 12 days.
The most common symptom is an abrupt onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Severe joint pain usually lasts a few days but can persist for months or even years. Serious complications are uncommon, but atypical severe cases can cause long-term symptoms and even death, especially in older people.
