Ethiopia: Chikungunya outbreak reported in Dire Dawa as of late August

Event

A chikungunya outbreak has recently been reported in the city of Dire Dawa and surrounding areas. According to health officials, at least 15,192 cases have been reported over the past month as of Thursday, August 29. No related fatalities have been reported thus far.

Additional spread of the disease is to be anticipated in the coming days and weeks.

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 or months after the initial recovery. No treatment or vaccine for the virus is currently available.

Advice

Individuals in the region 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 (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).