April 01, 2006 15:41 PM
30 People Infected By Chikungunya In Perak
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Chikungunya, a rare mosquito-borne disease, has struck a village in Perak and 30 cases have been detected by the Health Department since two weeks ago.
Communicable Disease Control Director Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the Health Ministry's laboratory tests on blood samples taken from 30 villagers in Panchut, Pantai Remis, confirmed that they had contracted Chikungunya, a viral disease which is not life-threatening.
Chikungunya is an urban disease resembling dengue and is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes mosquito.
The name Chikungunya is derived from Swahili "that which bend ups", referring to stooped posture developed as a result of arthritic symptoms of the disease.
"This is the first time that we have detected the Chikungunya outbreak in this country since 1999," Dr Ramlee said when contacted Saturday.
The last known outbreak in Malaysia was in 1999, when 27 people were infected in Port Klang, Selangor. Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa, in 1952.
Dr Ramlee said the Health Ministry was alerted to the possible outbreak two weeks ago after a general practitioner (GP) in the area reported to the Health Department about 30 people found to have symptoms which mirror to those infected by Chikungunya.
They were found to have symptoms such as fever, rashes, arthritis affecting multiple joints as well as headache.
"Following that, we went down and conduct a thorough check where we took blood samples from the villagers and sent them for the laboratory tests. After several tests, it was confirmed that they had Chikungunya," he said.
He said the ministry believed the outbreak had occurred much earlier as some of the villagers had been found to have similar symptoms but in smaller numbers.
"Following the confirmation of the tests, we have taken action such as fogging, cleaning as well as providing health education to the people in the affected villages," Dr Ramlee said.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=189418
30 People Infected By Chikungunya In Perak
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Chikungunya, a rare mosquito-borne disease, has struck a village in Perak and 30 cases have been detected by the Health Department since two weeks ago.
Communicable Disease Control Director Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the Health Ministry's laboratory tests on blood samples taken from 30 villagers in Panchut, Pantai Remis, confirmed that they had contracted Chikungunya, a viral disease which is not life-threatening.
Chikungunya is an urban disease resembling dengue and is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes mosquito.
The name Chikungunya is derived from Swahili "that which bend ups", referring to stooped posture developed as a result of arthritic symptoms of the disease.
"This is the first time that we have detected the Chikungunya outbreak in this country since 1999," Dr Ramlee said when contacted Saturday.
The last known outbreak in Malaysia was in 1999, when 27 people were infected in Port Klang, Selangor. Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa, in 1952.
Dr Ramlee said the Health Ministry was alerted to the possible outbreak two weeks ago after a general practitioner (GP) in the area reported to the Health Department about 30 people found to have symptoms which mirror to those infected by Chikungunya.
They were found to have symptoms such as fever, rashes, arthritis affecting multiple joints as well as headache.
"Following that, we went down and conduct a thorough check where we took blood samples from the villagers and sent them for the laboratory tests. After several tests, it was confirmed that they had Chikungunya," he said.
He said the ministry believed the outbreak had occurred much earlier as some of the villagers had been found to have similar symptoms but in smaller numbers.
"Following the confirmation of the tests, we have taken action such as fogging, cleaning as well as providing health education to the people in the affected villages," Dr Ramlee said.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=189418
