http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20060629.G01&irec=0
Muarojambi regency hit by chikungunya
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Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi
Muarojambi regency in Jambi has experienced an outbreak of a dengue fever-like disease that has affected at least 23 people over the past 10 days.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease with symptoms similar to those of dengue fever, including high fever and severe joint pain.
Because of the high number of people affected, officials in the regency have declared it a "special incident".
"The declaration of a special incident was based on the number of people infected over such a short time period," said Aspan Effendi, head of the Muarojambi Health Office.
According to data from the health office, 23 people are currently being treated for chikungunya at Raden Mattaher Hospital in Jambi city.
Most of those affected are residents of the Puri Masurai II housing complex in Jambi Luar Kota district.
One person, identified as Syurono, 32, has reportedly died of the disease. However, the health office is still running tests to determine the exact cause of death.
First recognized in its epidemic form in East Africa in 1952, chikungunya has continued to cause major epidemics in Africa, India and Southeast Asia. Also known as epidemic polyarthritis and rash, or buggy creek virus, the first case reported in Indonesia was in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, in 1973.
There were reported cases of chikungunya in Yogyakarta in 1983 and then the disease seemingly disappeared from the country for almost 20 years until 2001, when outbreaks were reported in Muara Enim in South Sumatra, Aceh and Bogor in West Java. In 2002, cases were reported in Bekasi in West Java, and Purworejo and Klaten in Central Java.
Chikungunya is caused by a self-limiting febrile virus that is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti or Aedes africanus mosquito.
The illness usually lasts for three to 10 days, though the joint pain can remain a problem for weeks to several months after the initial phase. While painful, chikungunya rarely results in death.
Since there are currently no antivirals available, prevention of the disease focuses on controlling mosquito populations and avoiding mosquito bites. Those who do contract the disease are advised to take plenty of rest and eat properly.
Aspan said his office was spraying for mosquitoes in those areas affected by the outbreak.
"We hope this can help prevent the spread of the disease," he said. Chikungunya was first reported in Jambi in 1980 in Kualatungkal, the capital of West Tanjungjabung regency
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Muarojambi regency hit by chikungunya
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]
Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi
Muarojambi regency in Jambi has experienced an outbreak of a dengue fever-like disease that has affected at least 23 people over the past 10 days.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease with symptoms similar to those of dengue fever, including high fever and severe joint pain.
Because of the high number of people affected, officials in the regency have declared it a "special incident".
"The declaration of a special incident was based on the number of people infected over such a short time period," said Aspan Effendi, head of the Muarojambi Health Office.
According to data from the health office, 23 people are currently being treated for chikungunya at Raden Mattaher Hospital in Jambi city.
Most of those affected are residents of the Puri Masurai II housing complex in Jambi Luar Kota district.
One person, identified as Syurono, 32, has reportedly died of the disease. However, the health office is still running tests to determine the exact cause of death.
First recognized in its epidemic form in East Africa in 1952, chikungunya has continued to cause major epidemics in Africa, India and Southeast Asia. Also known as epidemic polyarthritis and rash, or buggy creek virus, the first case reported in Indonesia was in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, in 1973.
There were reported cases of chikungunya in Yogyakarta in 1983 and then the disease seemingly disappeared from the country for almost 20 years until 2001, when outbreaks were reported in Muara Enim in South Sumatra, Aceh and Bogor in West Java. In 2002, cases were reported in Bekasi in West Java, and Purworejo and Klaten in Central Java.
Chikungunya is caused by a self-limiting febrile virus that is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti or Aedes africanus mosquito.
The illness usually lasts for three to 10 days, though the joint pain can remain a problem for weeks to several months after the initial phase. While painful, chikungunya rarely results in death.
Since there are currently no antivirals available, prevention of the disease focuses on controlling mosquito populations and avoiding mosquito bites. Those who do contract the disease are advised to take plenty of rest and eat properly.
Aspan said his office was spraying for mosquitoes in those areas affected by the outbreak.
"We hope this can help prevent the spread of the disease," he said. Chikungunya was first reported in Jambi in 1980 in Kualatungkal, the capital of West Tanjungjabung regency
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