Island
disease hits 50,000 people
BBC ^ | 2/2/06 | n/a
Island disease hits 50,000
people
A crippling mosquito-borne
disease is spreading at an accelerating rate on the French Indian Ocean island
of Reunion, health officials say.
They
say the number of cases of the viral illness, known as chikungunya, had risen
to 50,000, an increase of 15,000 in the past week alone.
The disease is not fatal, but those affected suffer high fever and
severe pain. There is no cure or vaccine.
Hundreds of troops have been
deployed on the island to eradicate mosquitoes.
Officials said the troops would
be spraying the whole island against mosquitoes in the coming days.
The
latest outbreak was first noticed there in February 2005 - but has spread at an
accelerating rate since December.
Meanwhile, neighbouring
territories are mobilising to contain the disease.
On the Seychelles - where 2,000
cases have been reported in the past four weeks - the army has been mobilised
to exterminate mosquitoes, Reuters news agency reports.
The
authorities in Madagascar also fear the disease may have reached their island, AFP news agency says.
Chikungunya
fever is named after a Swahili word meaning "that which bends up" -
referring to the stooped posture of those afflicted.
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