Effective strategies should be at place to prevent chikungunya

Abstract

In the last 2 weeks of August 2016, the incidence of chikungunya has increased enormously in New Delhi and neighboring areas. There is a fear of chikungunya epidemic in the capital city of Delhi. Even a few cases of deaths, though unconfirmed due to chikungunya, have been reported, and therefore, there is panic in the mind of the people for chikungunya. Although the health‑care delivery system of India has been activated to treat and prevent this highly transmissible disease, the public awareness and cooperation are equally essential for prevention of this disease. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks had been identified before 2013 in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.^[1] The first local transmission of CHIKV in the Americas was identified in Caribbean countries and territories in the later part of 2013. Read more....