OUTBREAK OF CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Haafsa Arshad Sahibzada Department of Oral Surgery, Islamabad Dental Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Zohaib Khurshid Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
  • Rabia Sannam Khan Department of Oral Biology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Sohail Zafar Assistant Professor, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawara P.O. Box. 2898, Zip Code: 41311. Saudi Arabia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5157-7067
  • Khalid Mahmood Siddiqi Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madinah Munawwarah Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In this report, aim is to highlight the recent outbreak of Chikungunya virus in Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan. Chikungunya virus is transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Firstly, described as an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952 and later spread in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pacific and Indian Oceans. In late 2016, the virus has been reported to cause severe morbidity and fatality among patients reporting to the local government hospital in Malir region of Karachi. Patients came to emergency ward with complaints of fever, skin rashes, fatigue and joint pain. To improve the existing knowledge and current epidemic in this area we reported the causes, sign & symptoms, precautions and treatment measures for the control from this virus spreading in mass gatherings. In addition, self-awareness, preventive measures implementation by public health officials in response to reports of Chikungunya virus will help to evaluate the outbreak settings.

Keywords: Chikungunya virus; fever; skin rashes; joint pain; headache

Author Biographies

Haafsa Arshad Sahibzada, Department of Oral Surgery, Islamabad Dental Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

Department of Oral Surgery, Islamabad Dental Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

Zohaib Khurshid, Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Department of Dental Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Rabia Sannam Khan, Department of Oral Biology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

Department of Oral Biology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

Muhammad Sohail Zafar, Assistant Professor, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawara P.O. Box. 2898, Zip Code: 41311. Saudi Arabia

Assistant Professor, Department of restorative dentistry,

Khalid Mahmood Siddiqi, Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madinah Munawwarah Saudi Arabia

Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of DentistryTaibah University, Madinah Munawwarah Saudi Arabia

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Published

2018-07-01

How to Cite

Sahibzada, H. A., Khurshid, Z., Khan, R. S., Zafar, M. S., & Siddiqi, K. M. (2018). OUTBREAK OF CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 30(3), 485–488. Retrieved from https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/jamc/index.php/jamc/article/view/2257