7 March 2006

 

Chikungunya in La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and Mayotte - update

A total of 2,849 cases of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have been reported in La Réunion between 28 March 2005 and 26 February 2006 [1].

The cases were reported by 31 physicians from a sentinel network in La Réunion, and include 288 cases reported during the week of 20 to 26 February 2006.

Using a mathematical model it has been estimated that a total of 186,000 people may have been infected between March 2005 and 26 February 2006 in La Réunion, including 19,000 during the week of 20 to 26 February. More than 140,000 of these cases are estimated to have occurred since 1 January 2006 [2]. Reports indicate that more than 50 deaths may have occurred in persons with CHIKV infection, but these cases are being investigated further to determine if there is a direct link between the virus and the fatal outcome [1].

Since the beginning of January 2006, other countries in the south west Indian Ocean have also reported CHIKV cases: 2,553 cases, including 1,173 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported in Mauritius; 4,650 cases in Seychelles; and 2264 cases in Mayotte [1, 3].

More than 140 cases of imported CHIKV have been identified on mainland France since March 2005 [2]. During February 2006, three cases of imported CHIKV were reported in Switzerland in patients returning from La Réunion and one case was reported in Germany in a patient returning from Mauritius [4].

A WHO team has been deployed to the affected areas to assess the control measures that have been implemented on each island. The focus of the control measures is to reduce the mosquito breeding grounds together with an extensive public health education campaign.

Advice to travellers

Information about CHIKV infection can be found in the NaTHNaC clinical update of 7 February 2006 [5].

There is no vaccine available to protect against CHIKV. Travellers to affected areas are advised to take insect bite precautions, particularly during daylight hours when the vector mosquitoes are active.

References

1. Institute de Veille Sanitaire. Epidemie de Chikungunya a La Réunion / Ocean Indien, Point de situation au 3 Mars 2006. [cited 6 March 2006] Available at: http://www.invs.sante.fr/display/?doc=presse/2006/le_point_sur/

chikungunya_030306/index.html

2. Cordel H. Chikungunya outbreak on Réunion: update. Eurosurveillance. 2006; 11. Available at: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060302.asp#3

3. World Health Organization. Chikungunya in Mauritius, Seychelles, Mayotte (France) and La Réunion island (France) - update. 1 March 2006. [cited 2 March 2006] Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_03_01/en/index.html

4. ProMED mail. Chikungunya - Indian Ocean Update (05): Spread to Europe, 4 March 2006, [cited 6 March 2006] Available at: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:2928741

021193297396::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001

_PUB_MAIL_ID:1010,32230

5. NaTHNaC. Chikungunya virus - Réunion, Mauritius and Seychelles. 7 February 2006. [cited 2 March 2006] Available at: http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/chik_070206.htm