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Epidemic in Philippines on Friday, 28 December, 2012 at 19:10 (07:10 PM) UTC.
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| Description |
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The Albay provincial health office (PHO) in southern Luzon, Philippines is reporting some 19 cases of suspected Chikungunya fever from two villages in the Bicol region province. Dr. Luis Mendoza, Albay provincial health officer, said he and a team from the provincial epidemiology office went to Sto. Domingo on Dec. 22 to validate reports that 18 villagers from Barangay San Juan and one villager in San Vicente got sick of Chikungunya virus, Philippine media reports. Most of the patients reported only flu-like symptoms, rashes and joint pain–all classic symptoms of the mosquito borne virus. Many didn’t even seek out medical care because they figured they only had the flu. Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (the "Asian Tiger Mosquito"). Chikungunya virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus, in the family Togaviridae. Chikungunya fever is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., joint swelling), laboratory testing, and the possibility of exposure to infected mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for chikungunya fever; care is based on symptoms. Chikungunya infection is not usually fatal.
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| Biohazard name: |
Chikungunya Fever |
| Biohazard level: |
2/4 Medium |
| Biohazard desc.: |
Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. |
| Symptoms: |
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| Status: |
confirmed |
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