Chikungunya fever Bolivia triggered an alarm

Chikungunya fever: Bolivia triggers alarm

02/22/2015

In Bolivia, more and more people are suffering from chikungunya fever. The disease-causing virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes, among other things, muscle and joint pain. The infectious disease can also be fatal.

First illnesses were reported two weeks ago
Bolivia's health authorities have raised a warning about a Chikungunya epidemic, according to news agency dpa. According to a spokesman on Saturday in the Department of Santa Cruz in the southeast of the country said that in the South American Andean country at least 29 cases of mosquito-transmitted fever had been confirmed. It also states that the first illnesses were reported there two weeks ago. The authorities have since treated daily new cases.

Caribbean region is particularly affected
For over a year, the Chikungunya virus spread in Latin America. The first case was announced in December 2013. According to recent data from the Pan-American Health Organization OPS, more than 27,000 people have contracted the virus so far. The Caribbean region is particularly affected. For example, it was not until December that several people died of the disease in the Dominican Republic. Disease cases were also registered in the US state of Florida last year.

Illness can be fatal
The Chikungunya fever causes muscle and joint pain on the hands and feet as well as high fever. Sufferers often suffer from nausea and vomiting. In people with a healthy immune system, the disease usually progresses without serious complications. In debilitated patients, however, it can be fatal. So far, there are no effective drugs or vaccines against the disease. People traveling to affected countries are recommended by health professionals to protect themselves against mosquito bites. (Ad)

Image: Cornelia Menichelli