Mystery Disease Spreads on Island of Reunion

Created by jimmy. Last modified on 2007-05-04 09:55:28
Contributors:
Topic: Medical
Countries: Reunion Island

Report from January 2006 updated

News organizations report that an epidemic of an incurable mosquito-borne disease has continued to spread throughout the island of Réunion, with thousands of new cases reported.

In Reunion about a third of the population had been affected by July 2006 and the disease has spread to India. Estimates are that "Chikungunya" fever has affected more than a million people during the past 24 months in a large geographic area encompassing the equatorial coast of East Africa, the Indian Ocean islands and half of the Indian peninsula.

Chikungunya is from the Makonde language for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the non-fatal disease for which there is no known vaccine or cure. It is transmitted by the Aedes sp mosquitoes, the same mosquito that transmits dengue fever.

There have also been some cases reported in other countries from travellers who became infected following visits to affected countries in 2006 ie Reunion, India and Sri Lanka. However the outbreaks do appear to be waning as fewer cases have been reported at the end of 2006 and start of 2007.

Until the situation is cleared up anyone planning to visit Reunion is advised to find out first if this is safe to do.

For more information: UK Health Protection Agency