An outbreak of chikungunya, a virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is presently occurring in Kolkata. Hundreds of individuals in the city have been sick for the previous week, with symptoms including shivering, fever, and excruciating joint pain. Despite the fact that many people have tested positive for chikungunya, doctors are worried that many cases go undetected because there aren’t enough testing facilities available. This gives rise to concerns that the disease may be afflicting a large number of other people with comparable symptoms.
Similar to dengue, chikungunya is contracted through mosquito bites and shares symptoms like fever and body aches. On the other hand, post-chikungunya arthritis can occasionally result from chikungunya, which usually causes more persistent joint pain that can last up to 10 days. Fever usually goes away in five days, but joint pain can linger for five more, according to Sayan Chakraborty, a physician specializing in infectious illnesses at Manipal Hospital. After the infection, certain patients, especially those in the 30–40 age range, may have chronic joint problems.
The pandemic has afflicted numerous youngsters in addition to adults, causing fever and body rashes. Chikungunya cases have significantly increased this year, according to diagnostic labs, particularly since late October. Interestingly, although dengue infections are still low this year, chikungunya cases have significantly increased after cyclone Dana affected the Odisha coast and produced a temperature shift.
According to experts, chikungunya outbreaks usually happen every four to five years, and the present spike appears to be more noticeable in places like Dum Dum. Since dengue and chikungunya share symptoms and can often be hard to diagnose since it takes 5–6 days after infection to be detected, many doctors do not regularly test for chikungunya.
According to Suraksha Diagnostics’ molecular pathologist Abhirup Sarkar, there has been a rise in chikungunya cases this year, with one or two positive cases reported every day for the previous month. However, underreporting of instances has been exacerbated by a lack of testing facilities and knowledge. This worry was mirrored by Sauren Panja, an intensivist at the RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, who said that although many patients exhibit symptoms, there aren’t many diagnoses because of the lack of testing possibilities.
The outbreak emphasizes the necessity of better testing facilities and greater awareness in order to stop the spread of chikungunya in Kolkata.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
