Chikungunya epidemic: an Indian perspective
Autor(es): Kalantri S P, Joshi Rajnish, Riley Lee W
Resumo: Chikungunya, caused by the chikungunya virus, recently emerged as an important public health problem in the Indian Ocean Isl-s - India. In 2006, an estimated 1.38 million people across southern - central India developed symptomatic disease. The incidence of the disease may have been higher but may have been underreported due to lack of accurate reporting. First isolated in Tanzania in 1953, the chikungunya virus belongs to the family Togaviridae (single-str-ed RNA alphaviruses) - has 3 distinct genotypes: East African, West African - Asian. Previous outbreaks in India (1963 - 1973) were caused by the Asian genotypes, but the 2005 epidemic in the Indian Ocean isl-s - the 2006 epidemic in India have been attributed to the East African genotype. The virus is transmitted to humans by the bites of mosquitoes of the species Aedes aegypti - A. albopictus. Researchers speculate that mutation of the virus, absence of herd immunity, lack of vector control, - globalization of trade - travel might have contributed to the resurgence of the infection. Chikungunya is characterized by high fever, severe arthralgia - rash. Although viral diagnostics (culture, serological tests - polymerase chain reaction tests) can be used to confirm the infection, these tests are not accessible during outbreaks to the majority of the population. The disease is a self-limiting febrile illness - treatment is symptomatic. As no effective vaccine or antiviral drugs are available, mosquito control by evidence-based interventions is the most appropriate strategy to contain the epidemic - pre-empt future outbreaks.
Imprenta: The National Medical Journal of India, v. 19, n. 6, p. 315-322, 2006
Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya virus - RNA ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya virus - Serological diagnosis ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Vaccine ; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever ; Chikungunya virus - Epidemic ; Chikungunya virus - Epidemiology ; Chikungunya virus - Public health
Data de publicação: 2006
