Chikungunya fever spreading in C'nawabganj, 30 cases detected
Thirty people have been primarily detected with Chikungunya fever in Shibganj upazila of the district while many others received treatment with similar symptoms here during the last one month.
Chikungunya, a viral disease marked by fever, headache, rash, nausea, pain in muscles and joints, is transmitted to humans through biting of Aedes mosquito, said doctors.
The doctors of Shibganj upazila health complex recently provided treatment to some patients with symptoms of Chikungunya, locally called langra jar.
As they reported the matter to their higher authorities, a ten-member team of doctors from ICDDRB and IEDCR came to Shibganj upazila from Dhaka last week to collect blood samples of the patients and examine it in laboratories to identify the disease.
"The team primarily identified the disease as Chikungunya fever and detected 30 patients, based on the symptoms. We hope to get their written report soon," said Dr Abdul Matin, medical officer of Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon's Office.
"Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The disease resembles dengue fever, and is characterised by severe, sometimes persistent, joint pain (arthritis), fever and rash. However, the disease is curable and medicines for ordinary fever is used in this case," he said.
He said they have no data about the total patients as most of the fever affected patients took treatment in outdoor sections of the hospitals.
However, situational evidence suggests that at least 100 people in the district were affected with Chikungunya disease in last one month, said sources at the civil surgeon's office.
Dr Golam Rabbani, medicine specialist of Mother and Children Welfare Centre at Chapainawabganj, said he found a few patients with symptoms of Chikungunya fever at his chamber in the town and treated them.
"Chikungunya does not cause life threatening infection. Symptomatic treatment for mitigating pain and fever using anti-inflammatory drugs along with rest usually suffices. While recovery is the expected outcome, convalescence can be prolonged, up to a year, and persistent joint pain may require analgesic and long term anti-inflammatory therapy," he said.
Fever, rash and arthritis, resembling Chikungunya fever were recorded as early as 1824 in India and elsewhere. However, the virus was first isolated from both man and mosquitoes during 1952-1953 epidemic in Tanzania, doctors said.
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