Chikungunya count low as most cases go undetected

TNN, Oct 26, 2010, 12.51am IST
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NEW DELHI: After dengue, chikungunya is creating a scare among Delhiites and health agencies. MCD has reported 33 cases so far but its officials admit that cases are under-reported due to lack of availability of specialised kits to confirm the disease.

Both private and government hospitals are getting a large number of patients with acute to chronic joint pain. Patients are reporting to hospitals after high-grade fever. "It (chikungunya) is a poor cousin of dengue. It mimics dengue symptoms like fever, rashes, drop in platelets, etc, but the distinguishing symptom is acute joint pain," said Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO, Batra Hospital.

Most cases are not being reported as labs in the city are not equipped to test chikungunya antigen. "This has been a rare entity in this part of the country. In the last few years we have not reported too many chikungunya cases. Very few labs have the Elisa test for chikungunya. When the confirmatory test is not available in many labs, people don't get to know about it. And within 10 days the joint pain also subsides," said Dr Bagai.

MCD officials admit that this year chikungunya cases have been under-reported. " Delhi was never endemic for chikungunya. This year we have seen an exceptional rise in the number of cases," said Dr VK Monga, chairman, health committee, MCD.

Doctors say cases have been coming in for the past two months — ever since dengue outbreak was declared in the city, as the carrier of the virus — aedes aegypti — is the same.


Read more: Chikungunya count low as most cases go undetected - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Chikungunya-count-low-as-most-cases-go-undetected/articleshow/6811830.cms#ixzz13WwPg0hn