Via the Philippine Information Agency: Samar health authorities face another round of Chikungunya in other towns, LGUs asked to prepare.Excerpt:
Health authorities in Samar may yet face another round of Chikungunya fever infection in Samar as some 500 Villareal folks have been affected which rendered the victims unproductive for a week.
Dr. Antonio Tirazona, Department of Health (DOH) Representative in Samar reported this during the first Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council (PDRRC) meeting, this morning.
He declared that they have received reports that Chikungunya has threatened the municipalities of Daram, an island town, Jiabong, Gandara and the city of Catbalogan.
Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). Symptoms appear on average three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The virus causes high fever and severe joint pain. It can also cause headache, muscle pain and rashes.
“This is not fatal, but it can make people lose work for a number of days, and depletes the resources of the community affected,” he explained.
“In Villareal, the LGU ran out of medicines that they asked the help of the provincial government. The Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) is now examining the blood samples taken from the patients in Daram,” he said.
DOH -Samar has warned the public last week of the Chikungunya virus infection. The doctor said that infected persons should be protected from further mosquito exposure during the first few days of illness so they can not contribute to the transmission cycle.
