Number of Chikungunya Cases Rises in Odiongan Town

Health authorities in the municipality of Odiongan in Romblon have reported a rise in the number of towns folk infected with mosquito-borne chikungunya virus.

Citing information from local health officials, a report on Unang Balita said 26 cases have already been recorded since August.

It said, Barangay Batiano is badly hit with 17 (65%) of the 26 cases.

Meanwhile, the number of reported chikungunya infections in Indang town in Cavite has reached an “outbreak level,” claiming the most number of the over 400 cases in the whole province, local health officials said.

In late September, Department of Health Spokesperson Eric Tayag told radio dzBB that the same type of mosquito carries chikungunya, dengue, and zika viruses.

Unlike the dengue virus, chikungunya is not deadly. The zika virus, on the other hand, is also not deadly but is linked to some birth defects, based on experiences of other countries.

Thus, Tayag said that the DOH campaign against zika is also a campaign against chikungunya and dengue.

“Hindi po (nakamamatay ang chikungunya), mas matakot po tayo sa dengue,” Tayag said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said, “chikungunya is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever frequently accompanied by joint pain.”

The joint pain can last for days or weeks—in some cases even months and years, which can be debilitating.

Other signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.

Full recovery is common in most patients, but complications have been reported. — LBG, GMA News

(Source: GMAnetwork.com)