The State of Rio registered 36,102 cases of chikungunya in the period from January to November 13 this year, according to a G1 Globo report (computer translated).

Aedes aegypti/CDC
Aedes aegypti/CDC

Of these patients, 16 died with complications of the disease.

These cases, and the number of Zika and dengue cases this year, 2,223 and 13,886, respectively, has prompted health authorities to launch an awareness campaign that includes warnings about the importance of stopping standing water, comics with the adventures of Dezinho and his family, animated GIFs and videos, to post on social networks and share by Whatsapp.

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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. 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).

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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.

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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.