Cambodia: Thousands infected as chikungunya outbreak spreads September 28

Event

The Cambodian Health Ministry has reported that as many as 6,000 people have been infected with the chikungunya virus in the previous three months as of Monday, September 28. At least five tons of larvicide has been shipped across 21 affected provinces across the country, with a reported 80 percent of the cases being concentrated in Takeo, Siem Reap, and Preah Vihear. Authorities have not declared a pandemic and have said that for now, the situation is manageable with some 96 percent of the cases having recovered. There have been no confirmed deaths associated with the virus and at least 250 infected patients remain in hospitals. 

Further spread of the disease is likely in the near term.

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

Those in Cambodia 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 pools of freshwater, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flowerpots, clogged gutters, etc.).