Emergence of Chikungunya Virus in Pakistan: What should be done?

Abstract

Since 10 years, Chikungunya – a virus spread through Aedes
spp mosquitoes – has reemerged in Africa, southern and
southeastern Asia, and the Indian Ocean Islands.1 In South-
East Asia, epidemics have been documented in India,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Pakistan.2
In September 2016, despite the warning of National Institute
of Health (NIH) about the possible danger of chikungunya
after its outbreak in India, Pakistan suffered its initial
chikungunya outbreak in Karachi, megacity of the province
Sindh infecting over 3000 people. 3The very first case of
Chikungunya outbreak in Pakistan was reported at a
government facility in Malir, Karachi.4 According to recent
studies conducted by WHO, Pakistan shares the highest
burden of major vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya.5
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alpha virus belonging to
family togaviridea. It exists in three genotypes, the Asian,
West African and East Central South African that are
responsible for outbreaks in the respective areas.
Chikungunya fever is spread by the bite of mosquitoes of
the genus Aedes, Aedes aegypti being the principal vector.2,6,7
A. aegypti mainly multiplies in fresh water storages such as
desert coolers, water-tanks etc and around human habituation
(pots, bins, cans etc) in urban and semi urban environments.
The virus is postulated to exist in a human-mosquito-human
circuit, and the bite of the female mosquito accounts to
infection because it requires blood meal for the formation
of eggs.2