bdnews24.com
A new disease called Chikungunya that causes painful and sometimes crippling symptoms has spread in the capital Dhaka, raising a public health alarm.
The mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus first broke out in the northern Chapainawabganj district in 2008 and a year later it was found in the north-western Sathia, and in 2011 again in northern Shibganj upazilla.
The same year it was also found in the Dhaka suburb of Dohar.
But the government’s disease monitoring arm, IEDCR, on Wednesday only confirmed its presence in the capital after testing bloods from households of four different corners.
Director of the IEDCR Prof Mahmudur Rahman, however, urged people not to be panicky, rather be aware of the disease and prevent mosquito bite.
Aedes aegypti that causes dengue, breakbone fever, carries the virus.
It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
According to World Health Organisaiton, the disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
