Chikungunya - South-East Asia epidemiological update

[Sally Furniss]

Hattip ioh


http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_topics/Chikungunya_Fever/asia/default.aspx

Chikungunya : Short epidemiological update, South-East Asia ? 9 June 2009


In recent years, countries in <st1lace w:st="on">South-East Asia</st1lace> have been severely affected by outbreaks of Chikungunya fever. <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> was hit in 2006 after a quiescence of 32 years, following the re-emergence in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region> in 2004 and the spread in the <st1lace w:st="on">Indian Ocean</st1lace> islands in 2005. <st1:country-region w:st="on"> Indonesia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Maldives</st1:country-region>, and <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1lace> have also been affected by Chikungunya. In 2008, <st1:country-region w:st="on"> India</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Indonesia</st1lace></st1:country-region> reported outbreaks.<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"></st1:country-region></st1lace>
<st1lace w:st="on"> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand
</st1:country-region> </st1lace> In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Thailand</st1lace></st1:country-region>, in 2009, a large outbreak has affected mainly the southern region, some of the areas being touristic destinations. A total of 24,029 cases have been notified from 1 Jan - 2 June in 36 provinces (no deaths are currently reported). The most affected areas are the southern provinces: Songula (reporting 36.3% of the cases), Narathiwat (28.6%), Pattani (14.2%) and Yala (8.6%) [1]. The first cases in Phuket were reported in March-April. From May 1 to 2 June, a total of 5,741 cases were notified; for nine provinces, it concerned the first reported cases of this year.
Chikungunya infection seems to quickly be spreading from the southern provinces to the upper parts of the country. Some confirmed cases are now reported in provinces in Middle, North and North-East of <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1lace> (see map).
<st1lace w:st="on"> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia
</st1:country-region> </st1lace> A total of 2,504 cases have been reported in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1lace> from the beginning of the year 2009 to May 30. Kedah is the most affected province (reporting 27.3% of the cases), then Selangor, Kelantan, Perak and <st1lace w:st="on"> Sarawak</st1lace>. In week 21 (24-30 May), 475 cases have been reported, mostly from the <st1:state w:st="on">Northern provinces</st1:state>: Kedah (reporting 48.2% of the cases) and <st1lace w:st="on">Penang</st1lace> (17.6%). The week before (week 20) 475 cases have been notified, mostly for Kedah province (87.8%) [2].
<st1lace w:st="on"> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Singapore
</st1:country-region> </st1lace> In <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region></st1lace>, since the beginning of the year up to week 21 (May 30), 275 cases have been notified including 28 imported cases and 247 cases following autochthonous transmission (three of whom occurred in week 21) [3]. In March 2009, one case of Chikungunya infection was identified in a French patient returning from a short trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on"> Singapore</st1lace></st1:country-region>.
References
[1] Ministry of Health, <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1lace>. Chikungunya Epidemiological status June 02 2009.
Available from: http://www.thaivbd.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=0
and http://203.157.15.4/chikun/chikun/situation/y52/chikun_200905281029.pdf
[2] Director General of <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"> Health</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1lace>. Epidemiological week 21, 24-30 May 2009.
Available from: http://moh.gov.my/MohPortal/newsFull.jsp?action=load&id=432
[3] Ministry of Health <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on"> Singapore</st1lace></st1:country-region>. Weekly infectious disease bulletin. Epidemiological week 21, 24-30 May 2009. Available from: http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/uploa...tious_Diseases_Bulletin/2009/2009_week_21.pdf
Update: June 10, 2009


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