Chikungunya Fever: India and Indian Ocean Islands
Since April 2006, a chikungunya fever outbreak has been on-going in the following states in India: Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala. At this time, investigations are on-going for identification of chikungunya fever in other areas of India, as it is important to confirm the diagnosis of chikungunya fever and rule out other mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and malaria in India.
A chikungunya fever outbreak on the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte , Mauritius, Réunion ( territory of France), and the Seychelles that began in March 2005 is waning. However, transmission can still occur, and travelers to all tropical and subtropical areas of the world are reminded to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Prevention Measures
There are no preventive medications or vaccines for chikungunya fever, but travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of being bitten by infected mosquitoes.
Use insect repellent on exposed skin surfaces when outdoors, particularly during the day.
Repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended. Lower concentrations of DEET offer shorter-term protection and require more frequent reapplication.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
Clothing may also be sprayed with repellent containing permethrin for greater protection.
Where possible, stay in hotels or resorts that are well screened or air-conditioned and take measures to reduce the mosquito population
Reduce Aedes breeding sites by emptying standing water that may have collected in containers (e.g., uncovered barrels, flower vases, or cisterns) and either overturning the vessels or covering the opening.
If illness develops, stay under a mosquito net or indoors to limit mosquito bites and to avoid further spread of infection.
These preventive measures are the same steps that one would take to reduce the risk of other mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases, such as dengue, malaria, and yellow fever.
Treatment
No specific drug treatment against chikungunya fever is available; thus, treatment of chikungunya fever is supportive:
- Bed rest
- Fluids, and mild pain medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or paracetamol may relieve symptoms of fever and aching, provided that the person has no contraindications to these medications. Because aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding and possibly increase the risk for Reye's syndrome, it should be avoided during the acute stages of the illness. Few cases are severe enough to warrant hospitalization.
- All persons with chikungunya fever should be protected against additional mosquito bites to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus.
