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The 2016-2017 Chikungunya Outbreak in Karachi
Darakhshan Guhar1, Nadia Jamil2, Shoukat Jahan Talpur1
1Centres of Excellence in Science and Applied Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.
Plos Currents
|September 14, 2018
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHKV) caused a significant outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2016. This study confirmed CHKV in 79.4% of tested patients, highlighting the need for surveillance and differential diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Chikungunya virus (CHKV), an alphavirus, causes an emerging infectious disease.
- The Togaviridae family member poses a significant public health threat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a Chikungunya virus outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan, in December 2016.
- To confirm the presence and prevalence of CHKV during the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Collected 126 serum samples from patients with fever, tiredness, and joint/muscle pain.
- Utilized Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Real-time Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for CHKV detection.
Main Results:
- Approximately 79.4% of tested samples were positive for Chikungunya virus.
- This represents the first reported large-scale CHKV outbreak in Karachi in recent decades.
Conclusions:
- CHKV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile illnesses.
- Effective surveillance and control strategies are crucial for managing CHKV outbreaks.
