Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

[DB]

http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053119000300.htm

Ramya Kannan and

Karthik Subramanian

CHENNAI: It appears that the self-limiting disease chikungunya may have reached Chennai, though confirmation is awaited from the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Two weeks ago, the health department of the Chennai Corporation collected blood samples from 20 persons at Old Washermanpet and Korukkupet, based on information from a retired Corporation doctor in the area. Since then, scattered reports of suspected chikungunya cases have been reported from Park Town, Purasawakkam, Saidapet, Vyasarpadi and Mylapore, though Corporation health posts have not recorded the disease.

The 20 patients whose blood samples were taken have been categorised as "Acutely ill" and "Convalescing." Verification by health department officials has revealed that some patients had visited Tirupati, where an outbreak was reported recently. Other cases have also been reported from areas with people who have been to Tirupati, Corporation Health department officials said.

Pandemic proportions


Chikun gunya was officially reported in India around November last year, said C. Nagaraj, Research Officer, Regional Office for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Characterised by high fever and headaches, the disease is marked for severe joint aches, which persist for about a month. The word "Chikungunya" itself comes from Swahili for "bent" describing the posture of an affected person.

Spread by the same mosquito that causes dengue, Aedes Aegypti, it is said to be a self-limiting disease with nearly nil mortality, unlike dengue. However, chikungunya, which can be detected by a blood test, is said to be debilitating and has no specific course of treatment. Only the symptoms are treated. The same precautions taken to prevent dengue are advocated to keep chikungunya at bay too: cleaning water containers frequently and preventing stagnation of fresh water, said the Corporation Vector Control Officer. Civic authorities too must spruce up their vector control programmes.
The issue was highlighted at the Chennai Corporation Council meeting on Tuesday when one of the councillors, P. Ullaselvan of the DMK, said the disease was spreading in North Chennai. Corporation Health Department officials, meanwhile, await confirmation from Pune to launch large-scale awareness campaigns.

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060531031803&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
230 chikungunya cases reported in Belgaum dist
Wednesday May 31 2006 13:39 IST
<SMALL>BELGAUM: Though the cases of chikungunya in other districts are plummeting, the disease is spreading fast in Belgaum district.

As many as 230 people in the district are said to be suffering from chickungunya. The disease has been identified in the villages of Ramdurg, Bailhongal, Gokak, Khanapur, Chikkodi and Athani taluks of the district.

The first case of chikungunya in the district was detected at Telsang village, with an additional 25 cases. However, the disease was controlled with the efforts of the medical teams that were sent to Telsang from Belgaum.

Dr P A Pattanshetti, District Health Officer, said the disease was under control and the administration had taken necessary steps to check its spread. He said that a team of doctors was sent to villages that had reported the disease.

He clarified that the disease was caused with the bite of the Edis mosquito. ?These mosquitoes bite only during the day because they are allergic to darkness,? he said.

He said, ?The disease is not concerned with chicken or eggs. It does not spread if a person eats chicken or eggs. The mosquitoes are born in stagnant water.?

Dr Pattanshetti said that as the rainy season had started in the district, risk of the spread of waterborne diseases increased tremendously. He advised people to drink boiled water.</SMALL>

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060601011537&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
Chikungunya spreading fast in Jagalur taluk
Thursday June 1 2006 11:37 IST
<SMALL>DAVANAGERE: Chikungunya cases are increasing at an alarming rate in Jagalur taluk. The poor patients are given the injection from a single needle, as they cannot afford to pay Rs 10 for a new injection needle.

?For each injection we are charged Rs 10. How can we get that much money for one injection? Other medicine, fruits and tender coconut are also costly. So we are taking injections given by a same needle,? many patients said.

Last week sufficient drugs were received at taluk hospital. The 12 primary health centres were asked to provide medicine to chikungunya patients. But the shortage of doctors has hit the medical services, sources at the hospital stated.

The taluk hospital has four doctors and a taluk health officer. But the shortage of doctors in PHCs made people to go to taluk hospital. This had resulted in mad rush in taluk hospital, sources said.

With disposable needles not being used and chikungunya patients forced to take injection from the same needle, the spread of other infectious diseases are not ruled out.

According to taluk hospital sources, the number of patients suffering from this disease with joint pains and fever are rushing into hospitals. But due to the lack of sufficient space, they are sleeping on floors, corridors.

Till Monday as many as 6,785 patients from all over taluk has been treated with chikungunya.</SMALL>

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

It appears that almost all of India is in the throws of Chikungunya.

Across India cases are probably somewhere over 5 million by now and I wouldn't be suprised if they would be over 10 million.

Is Chikungunya restricted to just India, does it follow political borders?

Kinda makes you wonder what is happening in the countries surrounding India.

 

[LMonty]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

another thing that makes me wonder is the dearth of information in the Western Press about this. at the rate this is going, I wouldnt be surprised to see it spread to signifciantly more countries this year.

DB, have you or anyone else noticed which mosquito vector it is? Aegyptes, or others? I cant recall all thats been said about it. I saw Edis in one post, that one doesnt ring a bell for me...I'll have to look up the distribution range of the vector, but wonder if thats the only one.

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060603020025&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
Doctor tells public not to panic over chikungunya
Saturday June 3 2006 12:21 IST
<SMALL>HUBLI: After conducting a checkup of the chikungunya-affected patients admitted to the emergency ward of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Hubli, here on Friday, Dr P S Kaladagi, director, KIMS, asked citizens not to panic over chikungunya.

Kaladagi said chikungunya was a viral disease which was caused by the bite of a mosquito that breeds in stagnant water. There was no vaccine and treatment to check the disease, so doctors would attend to patients after checking the symptoms.

Chikungunya affected patients, Shambhu Gowda Patil, Channavva Shambhu Gowda, Kuthcavva Dhoolappanavar and Shivaleela Patil were discharged today after they recovered from the disease.

Dos and Don?ts

Water in containers should be replaced at least once in three days

Water tanks should be emptied and left to dry for at least an hour before refilling them with clean water

Steps must be taken to avoid mosquito bites

Bleaching powder can be mixed in water that will not be used for drinking

Care should be taken not to allow stagnant water around houses

For inquiry, citizens may contact helpline-2213888 or 1913.</SMALL>

 

[LMonty]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

Snowy, if you and DB can put together a primer post on Chik, that's great. We probalby could make it a FAQ and sticky it in that room if y'all think that would work well. I personally would vote for that idea - we have visitors that wont have heard of it at all, and a FAQ would be very helpful. If it would help, I'll write one up if you send me the info in raw form. You guys can edit it to where you want it.

I remembered to grab another new bottle of DEET at the store yesterday, and the sales at the end of the summer will be a great time to pick up next years supply (I think all the repellants like DEET will store in spray form for a couple of years, wont they? IIRC some of the creams are less stable).

Thats a LOT of garlic, my friend! plant 50 lbs, and you will personally be responsible for keeping all of Canada safe from vampires! the only problem, it will be hard to stay low-profile, folks will be hiking in to your property, looking for the Italian Restaurant!

I bought seens for Citronella, with the same thought- I wanted to be able to produce my own repellant, ever I needed to. Figured I'd grow a few this year for the practice! I planted a few under lights, but the germination rate wasnt very good- out of three pots, I only got one seedling. I may try direct seeding some to see if they come up better that way.

I planted a few other medicinal herbs- and Ive had problems with germination. Much lower than I expected. Just a thought (sorry for the thread highjack!) for those of us who want to be able to grow our own- I got only seedling of Baikal scullcap, so far my regular scullcap hasnt come up at all, and there are several I've been disappointed in. Practice now, this year, while theres still time to plant! If I'd needed to depend on them,I'd have been in trouble!

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

LMonty,

A primer on Chikungunya is a good idea.

There are still some unanswered questions in my mind, mostly about the current mutations and vectors, but a primer on what we know has happened or can happen with chikungunya give certain conditions would be helpful for those interested.

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=9763
HEALTH CAMP IN JYOTHINAGAR



Mysore, June 4 (DN&BLU)- In the wake of suspected Chikungunya outbreak in the city, the Corporation Health Department has set up a health check-up camp in Jyothinagar Police Quarters.


Speaking to Star of Mysore today, the Corporation Commissioner Dr. K.N. Chandrashekhar said four doctors have been deputed for the camp.


'However, 34 persons have been suspected to be having Chikungunya symptoms but the real cause will be known only after the results of blood samples that were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Bangalore, will reach here tomorrow,' he disclosed.


The Corporation officials visited the area today also and took steps to sprinkle bleaching and DDT powder on the stagnated drainage water.

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=9760
BIRDS DIE AT HEBBAL LAKE

Environment Day-eve tragedy

Mysore, June 4 (DN&RR)- The city might boast of having a maximum number of lung spaces compared to its counterparts elsewhere, with good numbers of pockets of lush green and quiet lakes in and around it. But looking at the way the same are being managed, it looks they are more of a bane than a boon.

Or, how else one explain the utter neglect and mindless handling of Hebbal Lake in Hebbal Industrial Area that is now becoming a killer lake with indiscriminate dumping of garbage. Luckily, so far, only the migratory birds, eagles which prey on them and even marine creatures are dying by the dozens. The cause and easy to understand reason is simple.

Incidentally, we are celebrating the customary World Environment Day tomorrow.

The large quantities of waste and rotten meat and other food items, from hotels, dhabas and even households, are being dumped in the environs of lake and the whole area has become unmanageable for the residents nearby to live as the stink is unbearable.

What more, even the contractors of City Corporation, who are supposed to be clearing the garbage, are dumping the wastes. The eyewitnesses told Star of Mysore that lorries of the contractors arrive at the lake area in the early hours of the day or in the late evenings to dump the garbage.

The scene in and around the lake resembles a battle field of non-primates with dead migratory birds, eagles and fish scattered all around. The scene seems to have scared the residents.

Their fear of an outbreak of so-me epidemic is understandable as the memory of suspected Chikungunya in city is still fresh in their minds.

The residents complained to Star of Mysore that the Corporation contractors' trucks are supposed to dump the garbage only at the solid waste management plant on Nanjangud road. But they dump the garbage at Hebbal lake which is closer in order to save fuel.

A walk around the lake is enough to ascertain the seriousness as dead fish, ducks and eagles scattered all over emanating stench.

Another serious matter for consideration is the fact that though the residents called up and informed about the grave situation to the Corporation officials three day earlier, none bothered to visit the lake.

It may be recalled here similar incident took place at the same lake about six months ago and steps were taken to clear the garbage.

Even the Corporation officials were making rounds often and Garuda Police were also pressed into service to prevent the people from dumping the garbage, which lasted for only a few days. And soon everything was back to square one.

Apart from migratory birds and eagles, the effect of non-veg and other garbage wastes is killing the fish at the lake. The garbage dump is becoming a heaven for killer mosquitoes to breed.

The areas around the lake ? Hebbal, Jayalakshmipuram, Gokulam and others are bearing the brunt of garbage menace.

Even the stray dogs that feed on the carcasses are adding misery to the already grave situation by scattering the infected wastes all around the neighbouring areas.
The residents of Hebbal Police quarters nearby, are up in arms with the Corporation for neglecting the lake.

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060609045828&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0
Philanthropists renovate general hospital
Friday June 9 2006 15:19 IST
<SMALL>CHIKMAGALUR: Rs 20 lakh have been utilised in the past two years from the Welfare Fund of the district General Mallegowda Hospital to provide better facilities and latest medical treatment to patients.

District surgeon T V Ramakrishna said the family members of late A C Devegowda donated Rs 10.50 lakh to construct a special ward of having six bed capacity.

Construction work would be completed by July end and would be inaugurated on August 29, the birth day of late A C Devegowda, he informed.

He said another philanthropist Meera Mahale assured to give Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a separate pediatric ward. He said he had requested the Director of Health Department to release the deficit amount of Rs 4.50 lakh to take up the construction work immediately.

In order to effectively use the existing facilities of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Intensive Cardiologic Care Unit (ICCU) the hospital has taken the assistance of four professionally skilled nurses from Bangalore on contract basis and a separate central oxygen pipe line at a cost of Rs 1 lakh have been recently laid for emergency section, he informed.

There is an adequate stock of vaccine for snake and dog bite in the hospital.

The incidents of Chikungunya cases reported around Chikmagalur town was very less compared to Kadur and Tarikere taluks and even the dreaded Kyasanur Forest Disease was not reported since February following heavy rain, he claimed.</SMALL>

 

[Susie]

Chicken Gunia in Prabhat Pattan

Chicken Gunia in Prabhat Pattan

Chicken Gunia in Prabhat Pattan
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060614/1406102.htm
Chronicle News Service
Betul, June 13: In MP the adjoining of Maharastra where the virus of Bird flu was reached in Betul district, now in the villages of this district the virus of Chicken Gunia also reached and making the villagers to fall sick.

In Betul virus of the disease made havoc and the villagers are fearful. The health department awoke after affecting the villages and started check norms.

At Prabhat Pattan block under Multai tehsil of Betul district where in the villages Baghoda, Barai and other villages are affected with this virus. The villagers of around one dozen villages are bearing the burnt of this disease.

The Baghoda village Panch Ram Singh Rajput said that earlier one or two persons fell sick and were suffering from fever but within one week in every house one or two persons are suffering from this disease.

He said that the patients feel severe pain in their legs with fever. The patients suffers two or three days for three days.

The information about the spreading the disease has been given to BMO but the health team reached when the situation became serious.

The Chief Medical and Health Officer CK Thakur told to 'Central Chronicle' that the disease is spreading in Betul district. The most affected village of the district is Baghda.

Thakur said that a team of Gandhi Medical College Bhopal has visited the villages. A special team of doctors from state and centre has also reached Betul on June 10.

She said that the disease Chicken Gunia spreads through Adice mosquito. Its virus breed in stagnant water and grows speedily.

 

[emmysue]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

Chikungunya rampant in Tirupattur division
80 per cent affected in Kandili
http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/14/stories/2006061405570300.htm

TIRUPATTUR: As the District Health Department is not in a position to control the rare form of viral fever caused by the bite of mosquitoes, it has now spread rampantly in various parts of Ambur, Tirupattur, Pernambut and Vaniyambadi coming under the Tirupattur division in Vellore district with more and more people reported to be affected in these areas.

This is the situation even after Vellore Collector Dharmendra Pratap Yadav had instructed the Health Department to spare no efforts in bringing the virus under control.

Almost all the areas in the Tirupattur division have been severely affected by the viral fever. The intensity of the viral fever is felt more at Kandili near here where over 80 per cent of the population has been affected. A visit to the area revealed that almost all the families in Kandili were down with severe arthralgia fever that lasted for over 10 to 12 days. Residents there were left in the lurch, as the District Health Department had not posted a medical team for treatment. Health department officials at Tirupattur said that they were not in a position to give separate attention to Kandili, as the outbreak had been uniform in all the areas in the division. Further the Health Department was understaffed to attend to the affected persons.

The Health officials had visited Kandili only once when the outbreak was first reported at Udaiyar Street. When the residents complained of further spread of the virus to other areas, the Health officials expressed helplessness stating that the infected persons would have to come to Tirupattur for treatment. The situation was no better in other parts of Vellore district where cases of `Chikungunya' have been rampant. Yet there had been no concrete action from the Health Department in bringing the virus under control, which could possibly turn serious in the near future.

 

[Jeremy]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200606141741.htm
Regional
Govt. taking steps to prevent epidemic: TN Minister

Chennai, June 14 (PTI): The Tamil Nadu government was taking "all steps" to control the spread of chikun-gunya, a viral infection reported in 17 districts of the State, State Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran said today.

Talking to reporters here, Ramachandran said the blood samples of patients complaining of fever and pain in the head, body and knee joints were sent to the National Virus Laboratory in Pune which confirmed that the disease was chicken-gunya adding that 10,908 people have been affected by it in Tamil Nadu.

He claimed there were no reports of death due to the disease, which is a viral infection causing fever and headache. The disease would not cause death, but would affect normal functioning of the patient for 10 to 15 days, he added.

Answering a query on the cause of the disease, he said it would spread from those affected to the others through mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water. The state government was taking measures with the help of the local body authorities to keep the environment clean.

The patients recover after receiving treatment for two to five days. In some cases, the pain in the knee joints would continue for a few months, he said adding there were no ways for prevention.
Medical teams were formed in primary health centres in areas affected by chikun-gunya and medical camps were being held.

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Chikungunya: Pandemic Proportions

Dear Flu Trackers Admins, Mods, Residents, Members and Visitors

We have receive many request, sometimes desesperate that we make a synthesis of all the informations that DB had collected on Chickungunya.

Just this week, and it ain't over yet we had six intense request and call for help.

I would like to express my gratitude for all the work DB/Jeremy had compiled on this and if you can provide some help on how to threat the symptoms it could help some of the one million of people struggling with this painful and infectuous disease spreading now.

Thank you.

I am now closing this thread and invite you to post in the appropriate room,

Thank you

PS, this Snthesis will be done in English, French, Hindi and Gurmukhi

Snowy Owl