Chikungunya Fever: An Emerging Public Health Problem in Bangladesh

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging epidemic-prone and mosquito-transmitted causative agent of chikungunya fever accompanied by severe joint and muscle pain, headache, fatigue and rashes. In recent years, some diseases are emerging such as dengue fever due to climate change and global warming in Bangladesh. [12] it has been observed that during the period of monsoon and post-monsoon there is an increase activity of the vectors with rainfall and their life span is influenced by temperature and humidity. Post monsoon period increases virus transmission due to high vector density and Aedes aegypti is the main the vector responsible for CHIV in Bangladesh. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, recently swayed with a severe outbreak of chikungunya and there are so far 3,000 cases have been reported in different hospitals and clinics of Dhaka from May to July 2017. It is normally advised that patients with chikungunya should be managed as dengue until dengue fever has been ruled out [13]. Chikungunya infections are confirmed by the detection of the virus, viral RNA or CHIKV specific antibodies in patient sample using serological process but viral RNA can easily be detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. There is no vaccine for this infection as well as no specific antiviral treatment for Chikungunya fever as it is poorly responsive to analgesia in its acute and chronic phase of the disease. To control the spread of the infection government, non-government officials should come forward and take necessary steps to aware and educate people about the infection so that people can avoid contact with mosquitoes. National surveillance can be run along with active community participation is required to eradicate the mosquitoes the environment.