India: Ongoing chikungunya outbreak

Event

A chikungunya outbreak has been reported throughout India. According to health officials, at least 9175 cases have been reported in 2018 as of mid-May. The most affected areas include Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Authorities have implemented public health measures, including campaigns aimed at destroying mosquito breeding grounds, to slow the spread of the disease; nonetheless, additional cases are to be anticipated in the coming months with the arrival of monsoon season in July.

Context

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms include high fever, joint and muscle pain, rash, headache, nausea, and fatigue. The virus is rarely fatal but lingering joint pain can last for several weeks, even months, after the initial recovery. No treatment or vaccine for the virus is currently available.

Advice

Individuals in India are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).