Chikugunya fever

on last sunday, we got bad news... our housemate's (nana) parents were warded due to chikugunya fever.. what is chikigunya??? me myself never heard of it... 1st time hearing it i was like " chiku-kunyah what???"

so i took the liberty of searching it on da net..and below are what i found

What is chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Typically the Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads the disease. The World Health Organisation says there are also other competent mosquito vectors that infect the disease that are found in Africa, South-East Asia, southern India and Pakistan. Primarily, it occurs during the rainy season.

Why the name chikungunya?

Chikungunya comes from the Swahili language for stooped walk, reflecting the physique of a person suffering from the disease.
Is the disease fatal?
Generally, health experts say, chikungunya is not fatal. However, in last year, there were 200 deaths due to chikungunya on Reunion Island in southern Africa. In the last three months, there have been some 300 deaths across southern India, in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In July, Tamil Nadu had the largest number of cases that were centered around the southern districts of Madurai and Tirunelveli.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

The symptoms of chikungunya appear between four and seven days after the mosquito bite. A high fever and headache occur, with significant pains in the joints (ankles, wrists) that can persist for several weeks. The joints of the extremities in particular become swollen and painful to touch. A rash may sometimes occur. Haemorrhage is rare and all but a few patients recover within three to five days. Some can suffer from joint pain for months. Children may display neurological symptoms. Chikungunya is also known to create complications in young children, pregnant women, the elderly and in persons with underlying diseases.

Does the disease get transmitted between people?

WHO has officially declared that the disease is not transmissible between people.

What is to be done to prevent Chikungunya?

The main preventive measure is to stop the proliferation of mosquitoes by eliminating their breeding ground.

source: google (xhengat web mana)