Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Lakhs Affected As Chikungunya Sweeps Across The Nation
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=14019
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=14019
06 Sep 2006
Reports have claimed that after 32 long years, Chikungunya, a viral disease that spreads through mosquitoes, has resurfaced affecting lakhs of people across India.
The disease is characterised by high fever that lasts for around 7 to 10 days, and is usually associated with, painful joints, headache, vomiting, fatigue and nausea. The disease that is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti is usually not fatal. Officials at the NICD have stated that they have collected 30 blood samples from patients who have shown the symptoms of the disease. They expressed their fears that the virus, in the capital could be in an incubation period, with more cases turning up in the next few weeks.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) have announced that 3 of the 6 blood samples collected by them have tested positive for the deadly disease. The officials also mentioned that all the 3 patients who were of the age groups 27 to 30 had visited Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the states that has been affected badly by Chikungunya, in the past month. The health officials have stated that the disease has not been seen in Delhi before.
A senior NICD official said, ?We had received blood samples of six patients from three city hospitals, of which three have tested positive. Their clinical picture, along with antibody titre count of above 160 confirmed our worst suspicions.? The health minister A Ramadoss, was of the opinion that prevention against the disease is its only cure. He stated that the ministry has sent guidelines to various states for the control of an outbreak.
Reports have claimed that after 32 long years, Chikungunya, a viral disease that spreads through mosquitoes, has resurfaced affecting lakhs of people across India.
The disease is characterised by high fever that lasts for around 7 to 10 days, and is usually associated with, painful joints, headache, vomiting, fatigue and nausea. The disease that is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti is usually not fatal. Officials at the NICD have stated that they have collected 30 blood samples from patients who have shown the symptoms of the disease. They expressed their fears that the virus, in the capital could be in an incubation period, with more cases turning up in the next few weeks.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) have announced that 3 of the 6 blood samples collected by them have tested positive for the deadly disease. The officials also mentioned that all the 3 patients who were of the age groups 27 to 30 had visited Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the states that has been affected badly by Chikungunya, in the past month. The health officials have stated that the disease has not been seen in Delhi before.
A senior NICD official said, ?We had received blood samples of six patients from three city hospitals, of which three have tested positive. Their clinical picture, along with antibody titre count of above 160 confirmed our worst suspicions.? The health minister A Ramadoss, was of the opinion that prevention against the disease is its only cure. He stated that the ministry has sent guidelines to various states for the control of an outbreak.