Nagpur:The city of Nagpur is experiencing a chikungunya outbreak, with 37 cases reported over the past 35 days, alarming the health department.
The inconsistent rainfall has created a humid environment in the city, conducive to mosquito breeding. This has led to an increase in the population of Aedes mosquitoes, which spread chikungunya. The highest number of cases has been recorded in Dharampeth and Mangalwari zones, with 37 cases reported between June 1 and July 5, 2024. Measures like insecticide spraying and public awareness campaigns are being implemented, and the municipal health department claims the situation is now under control.
From January to May 2024, there were no reported cases of chikungunya in Nagpur. However, 30 cases were reported in June and 7 in the first five days of July, according to the municipal health department’s data.
Today’s Rate
Tuesday 12 Nov. 2024
Affected Areas:
The most affected areas in the Dharampeth zone include Surendragarh, K.T. Nagar, and Gittikhadan, while in the Mangalwari zone, Bhupesh Nagar, Barde Layout, and Borgaon are the most affected.
City Statistics:
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease characterized by fever lasting about three to four days. Symptoms include chills, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and rashes, with joint pain being the most prominent symptom. Both small and large joints can be affected, often with swelling. The disease is not life-threatening, and patients usually recover with proper treatment.
Diagnosis of Chikungunya:
Blood tests to detect antibodies are usually done about a week after the onset of symptoms to confirm chikungunya. These tests support the doctor’s diagnosis and help rule out other fever-related illnesses.
Chikungunya Source:
The primary reservoir for the chikungunya virus is humans. However, in Africa, wild animals bitten by Aedes mosquitoes are natural hosts. The virus belongs to the Togaviridae family and the Alphavirus genus, characterized by a single-stranded positive-sense RNA.
