Epidemiology

exp date isn't null, but text field is

In the South-East Asia region, Chikungunya virus is maintained in the human population by a human-mosquito-human transmission cycle that differs from the sylvatic transmission cycle described on the African continent. A high vector density is seen in the post monsoon season that enhances the transmission. Chikungunya fever epidemics display cyclical and seasonal trends. There is an inter-epidemic period of 4-8 years (sometimes as long as 20 years). Outbreaks are most likely to occur in post-monsoon period when the vector density is very high. Human beings serve as the Chikungunya virus reservoir during epidemic periods. During inter-epidemic periods, a number of vertebrates have been identified as reservoirs. These include monkeys, rodents, birds, and other vertebrates. The exact nature of the reservoir status in South-East Asia Region has not been documented.

After an extensive outbreak during the beginning of current millennium in the French territory of Reunion Islands in the Indian Ocean, the disease has been reported from almost 40 countries from various WHO regions including South-East Asia. The spread of the disease in South India from 2004 has affected millions of people and left many with crippling disabilities. The disease continues to cause epidemics in many countries in the region. There is no significant sex predilection and the virus causes illness in almost all age groups. As this is an illness not sufficiently covered in medical curriculum, it has become necessary to develop new guidelines, based on the limited clinical experience from managing patients in the region.