Chikungunya checks in, 1st case reported in Capital

[Gert van der Hoek]

Chikungunya checks in, 1st case reported in Capital

Teena Thacker

New Delhi, June 12: THE Delhi government?s health department today confirmed the first case of Chikungunya from the Capital. Delhi saw cases of Chikungunya last year after a gap of three decades.

Confirming the case, Principal Secretary (Health), D S Negi said, ?Blood samples sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases confirmed that the patient was suffering from Chikungunya. Further investigations are on.?

According to information, one Archana Gupta (36) from Paharganj was admitted in Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital with Chikungunya-like symptoms.

Municipal Health Officer N K Yadav said blood samples sent from the hospital ?confirmed the case?.

Following confirmation of the case, Delhi Health minister Yoganand Shastri called a meeting and directed the civic agencies to intensify their mosquito-surveillance drive. He asked civic agencies to penalise those found breeding mosquito.

According to Health department officials, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Infectious Diseases (ID) hospitals would be prepared to meet all emergencies.

Caused by Aedes mosquito, the symptoms of Chikungunya are similar to that of dengue.

Meanwhile, city doctors have been asked to send more samples to NICD as experts expect more cases in days to come.

The Health department has also directed the NICD to carry an epidemiological study to find out reasons of its occurrence.

?We will intensify checks,? an official said.

SYMPTOMS: Starts suddenly with fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and rash. Severe joint pain (arthritis) is common feature of the disease. Frequently, the infection causes no symptoms, especially in children.

PREVENTION: There is no vaccine or drugs available for Chikungunya, so prevention centres around avoiding mosquito bites.

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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Chikungunya checks in, 1st case reported in Capital

Chikungunya arrives in Delhi

New Delhi, June 12: The dreaded chikungunya has arrived in the capital with one case of the mosquito-borne disease afflicting a woman.

It was detected in a patient, Archana Gupta, 36, who had come to RML hospital last week, Delhi Health Secretary D S Negi told reporters today.

He said the blood sample of the woman from Paharganj was sent to National Institute of Communicable Disease and was tested positive for chikungunya.

This is the first reported case of chikungunya in the capital this year.

Last year, around 40 people in the capital had contacted the virus, while a total of 1,695 people from across the country were tested positive for the disease.

The national capital has this summer had only four cases of dengue so far.

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