By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency
Chikungunya cases recorded nationwide have gone down in the recent three to four weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday, Dec. 28.
Based on the most recent data as of Dec. 16, only 57 cases of Chikungunya were logged from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2.
“It is a 51% decrease from the 116 cases reported two weeks prior. No death has been reported thus far,” the DOH said in a news release.
Its overall tally from Jan. 1 to Dec. 2 of the current year has reached 2,928 cases.
Chikungunya cases usually increase during the rainy season, from June to September, as observed on five-year data.
“This year, the trend is similar with cases currently at a downtrend after the higher numbers reported during the rainy season,” it added.
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes – including Aedes aegypti, which may also spread Dengue, and Aedes albopictus.
Fever, joint pain (back, ankle, knee, and wrist), joint swelling, rashes, headache, body aches, nausea, and fatigue are among its symptoms.
These may appear three to seven days after the patient is bitten by a virus-loaded mosquito.
Patients may be given medicines to reduce pain and inflammation despite the absence of specific treatment for Chikungunya.