Ethiopia chikungunya: No cases reported since early December

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on the chikungunya outbreak in Ethiopia, UN health officials say no cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been reported since Dec. 8, 2019.

From late July 2019 to Dec. 8, 2019, Ethiopia saw a total of 54,908 suspected cases–most in Dire Dawa City Administrative City.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.

Because of the lack of cases in more than two months, the World Health Organization has classified this as a closed event.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV

The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and Zika, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where they are common. As there is no cure, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.