Chikungunya spreading, 397 cases in Sarawak

Desmond Davidson, New Straits Times 1 Oct 09;

KUCHING: Chikungunya, a viral disease, is on the rise in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said yesterday that until last year, there had not been any reports. However, there were 397 cases so far this year.

He said that even though the disease was spreading, it was not that serious.

The disease is transmitted to humans by the virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

The latest reported cases occurred in Sibu last week.

Twenty people, aged between 7 and 73, and living on the banks of the Rajang River, opposite Sibu town, and in Selangau, were hospitalised in Sibu hospitals.

All, except three in the Sibu general hospital, were discharged by Monday.

There have also been cases reported in Betong and in Kuching.

In his briefing on the latest situation on the haze, the dry spell and the influenza A (H1N1) in the state, he said people who contracted the chikungunya in infected areas brought the disease into the state.

State Health Department deputy director Dr Faizul Mansor said they were investigating the source of the spread of the disease in Sibu.

Chikungunya causes an illness with symptoms similar to dengue fever.

The fever lasts only two to five days and is followed by prolonged pain of the joints that can lasts for weeks or months.

Dr Chan also warned people in the state to brace for another two to three weeks of the dry spell and poorer air quality due to the haze.


He said weather forecasters at the Meteorology Department have predicted that rain could only be expected in the middle of October.

Areas in the state with the poorest air quality yesterday were Samarahan, Bintulu, Sibu and Sri Aman.