After India, Sri Lanka is hit by Chikungunya, the deadly disease spread by mosquito. The monsoon season is just over in Sri Lanka and there are many places where water remain clogged. These places have now become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The disease has reached epidemic level. Till now, five thousand people have been infected by this disease.
In order to stop the spread of the disease, Sri Lankan Health authority has ordered to clean all the areas that contain clogged water. The disease has spread rapidly in Kalmunai, Mannar, Batticaloa, Puttalam and parts of Colombo. The condition of the northern portion of Sri Lanka is worst. Because of the ongoing fight between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers, the highway to the northern area has been shut down since August. As a result, people living in those areas are not getting necessary medical supplies.
The symptoms of Chikungunya fever are similar to those of the dengue fever. The infected person gets high fever, pain in joints and muscles, severe headaches, body aches and rash.
Few days, ago I have written a post about Pakistani epidemiologists trained by USA. This is one such example, diseases like dengue, chikungunya and many other diseases take away people's lives in South Asian countries. I hope and pray that Sri Lankan government take proper steps to stop the spread of chikhungunya.
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Chikungunya viral infection is now spreading to Kandy, towards the central hill county in Sri Lanka.
Chikungunya viral fever epidemic is now prevalent in Kandy and Peradeniya area as well, with many suspected patients awaiting confirmation of Chikungunya infection. At least one patient admitted to the Rheumatology Unit at the Teaching Hospital Kandy had this fever with a positive Chikungunya Ig M antibody test associated with all clinical features of Chikungunya viral infection, the other possible infections concerned to be related to the episode of this febrile illness in this patient was excluded.
There are a large number of other patients affected with fever and joint pains presented from the suburbs of Kandy who are also awaiting confirmation of Chikungunya viral infection would become positively identified patients fairly soon . It is extremely important to take preventive measures with cleaning of mosquito breading areas, as there are patients with dengue fever which is also prevalent and spreading rapidly in and around Kandy, already with few deaths mainly affecting young and otherwise healthy and productive individuals.
Dr. V. W. Jagath Vasanthathilaka
Consultant Rheumatologist
General Hospital Kandy. Sri Lanka.
Posted by: Dr . V. W. Jagath Vasanthathilaka | December 9, 2006 7:51 PM | Permalink to Comment