First evidence of chikungunya virus infection in Assam, Northeast India

P Dutta; S A Khan; A M Khan; J Borah; P Chowdhury; J Mahanta

doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.02.004

First evidence of chikungunya virus infection in Assam, Northeast India

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Jun;105(6):355-7. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.02.004. Epub 2011 Apr 20.

Authors

P Dutta¹, S A Khan, A M Khan, J Borah, P Chowdhury, J Mahanta

Affiliation

¹ Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), NE Region, Dibrugarh-786001, Assam, India. duttaprafulla@yahoo.com

PMID: 21511316
DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.02.004

Abstract

During June-September 2008, an illness characterized by fever, headache and joint pain was reported in Assam state, northeast India. It presented characteristic features resembling chikungunya or dengue virus infection based on clinical symptoms. Dengue and chikungunya IgM antibody was detected in 10.0% (28/280) and 3.6% (10/280) patients respectively. The chikungunya positive patients did not travel to and from any endemic region confirming indigenous transmission. Persistent arthralgia and hearing loss has been observed in a recovered patient. Entomological surveys revealed the presence of vectors viz. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This is the maiden report of chikungunya occurrence in Northeast India.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aedes
Age Distribution
Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Alphavirus Infections / transmission
Animals
Chikungunya Fever
Dengue / epidemiology*
Dengue / transmission
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Humans
India / epidemiology
Male
Sex Distribution