New Delhi: June 13, 2007 (Wednesday) - The first case of chikungunya in this season was  reported yesterday from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.  This disease is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito — the same mosquito that causes dengue fever.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) yesterday tested a 36-year-old person namely Archana Gupta from Paharganj area and found positive for chikungunya. It is not fatal but very painful and takes more period to cure.

  "We have received reports from NICD. The patient has not been admitted in the hospital, as her condition does not require admission. The precautions for dengue and chikungunya are similar are we are fumigating areas to control vector breeding,” said Dr NK Yadav, Municipal Health Officer, MCD.

Chikungunya is usually not fatal and is characterised by high fever lasting seven to 10 days, joints pain, headache, vomiting, fatigue and nausea. The infection does not have a cure and the only way to prevent it is to kill the mosquito and destroy its breeding grounds. After 2-3 days of onset of fever a rash may be noticed. Chikungunya is a self-limiting disease and rarely fatal, unlike dengue fever.

Neither dengue nor Chikungunya have specific medications and the treatment for both viral diseases is symptomatic, say experts.

"There are no vaccines and it has to be tackled with paracetamol and fluids. People should keep in mind that Aedes Aegypti is a day-biting mosquito and mosquito nets are no precaution as far as dengue or chikungunya are concerned," said Dr Bir Singh, Professor of Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

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