1 year, 4 months ago

1,503 and counting: Chikungunya cases in Punjab at 7-year high

Amid the soaring dengue cases, Punjab is also gripped by the worst outbreak of another vector-borne disease — chikungunya. At 1,503, the state has already reported the highest number of cases since 2017, when the state formally started maintaining surveillance of the debilitating disease. Patiala district epidemiologist Dr Sumeet Singh said both dengue and chikungunya had similar symptoms, but immense joint pain and inflammation, rashes and absence of respiratory symptoms can help to distinguish chikungunya from other illnesses. Officials of the Punjab health department told HT that as the spike in chikungunya cases was spread across the north region, there was high possibility of virus transmission from other states.

Hindustan Times

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