![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Chikungunya
Oct. 5th, 2006 03:00 pmA rare mosquito disease has been on the rampage in Southern India the last few months and it's finally making the headlines.
Chikungunya, from the Makonde language (of East Africa) for "that which bends up" has reportedly claimed atleast 71 lives in the southern state of Kerala and affected thousands more across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.
Several of my relatives have been affected, including a few cousins, my grandfather and a great uncle. Luckily, the viral fever is not fatal but unfortunately, there is no specific vaccine to cure it.
Some of the symptoms include high fever (39°C/102.2 °F), a nasty rash and crippling joint pain. My cousin took nearly 2-3 weeks just to recover from the various headaches and joint pains.
Apparently some WHO team has arrived in Kerala today. I wonder if it'll make any difference...
Chikungunya, from the Makonde language (of East Africa) for "that which bends up" has reportedly claimed atleast 71 lives in the southern state of Kerala and affected thousands more across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.
Several of my relatives have been affected, including a few cousins, my grandfather and a great uncle. Luckily, the viral fever is not fatal but unfortunately, there is no specific vaccine to cure it.
Some of the symptoms include high fever (39°C/102.2 °F), a nasty rash and crippling joint pain. My cousin took nearly 2-3 weeks just to recover from the various headaches and joint pains.
Apparently some WHO team has arrived in Kerala today. I wonder if it'll make any difference...
