Singapore reported one more case of the mosquito-borne
chikungunya fever, bringing the total number of the tropical
disease to 13, local media reported Wednesday.
Local television Channel News Asia quoted the National
Environment Agency and the Health Ministry as saying that the
latest probable case was a Singaporean female who was admitted to
hospital for suspected dengue fever on Jan. 16, and later was found
to have chikungunya fever.
Since the first local-transmitted case was detected on Jan.
14,the government agencies have screened 2,626 people for the
disease, and more than 4,800 inspections have been conducted,
according to the report.
Like the dengue virus, the chikungunya virus is spread by the
Aedes mosquito. The symptoms include fever, joint pains, chills and
nausea.
Since there is currently no vaccine for the chikungunya fever,
destroying mosquito breeding sites is an efficient way to prevent
transmission.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)