Thailand: Number of chikungunya cases triple in 2019

Event

Health officials have reported 11,484 cases of chikungunya in 2019, more than three times the previous 2018 figures (3580 cases), most of which were reported in the Pattani, Ranong, Phuket, Tak, and Songkhla provinces. No related death has been recorded.

Context

A chikungunya outbreak has been ongoing in Thailand since October 2018

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 Thailand 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.).