Chikungunya confirmed cases increase by nearly 400, suspected cases almost 8,000
Although no new countries or islands were affected by the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean and South America, the number of confirmed/probable an suspected cases increase by a not insignificant number, according to the latest data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Feb. 28.
The confirmed/ probable cases of the mosquito borne virus increased by 389 cases with the total now at 2,622.
The breakdown by country/island is as follows: UK Virgin Islands (6), St. Martin -French (765), St. Martin-Dutch (115), Martinique (1,058), Saint Barthélemy (127), Guadeloupe (476), Dominica (45), French Guiana (17), Anguilla (11), Aruba (1) and St. Kitts (1).
The number of suspected cases is now 7,810. The breakdown of suspected cases is St. Martin -French (2,030), Martinique (3,940), Saint Barthélemy (380) and Guadeloupe (1,460).
In addition, there has been three fatalities reported.
What is the difference between a confirmed, probable and suspected case of chikungunya?
The French Institute for Public Health Surveillance says, by definition, a clinically suspected case is defined by:
- A person with fever > 38.5 ° C sudden onset ET joint pain in the extremities first the clinical picture AND in the absence of other causative orientation.
- A probable case is a suspected case as defined above and having Chikungunya IgM positive or limits
- A confirmed case is a suspected case with a virological endpoints or serological following :
- Virus isolation ;
- OR Demonstration of viral genome by RT -PCR ;
- OR recent Seroconversion or 4-fold increase under the IgG on two sera taken two weeks minimum interval
- OR Highlighting specific antibodies by chikungunya neutralization on limits or IgM positive
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page and the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show page.
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available