'Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000; Office, Ministry of Public Health, Nong Khi CHIKUNGUNYA IN THAILAND: A RE-EMERGING DISEASE? Lakkana Thaikruea', Ongart Charearnsook', Suthorn Reanphumkarnkit’, Prasert Dissomboon?, Ratsami Phonjan’, Sanit Ratchbud’, Yoawarej Kounsang? and Doansamorn Buranapiyawong? *Nong Khai Provincial Health ‘Seka Community Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, ‘Nong Khai, Thailand Abstract. The first reported case of chikungunya virus diagnosed by serology in Thailand was in 1960 and the last one was in 1991. The disease surveillance system does not specifically include chikungunya cases and the signs and symptoms are similar to these of dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF), rubella, and fever of unknown origin (FUO); thus cases might often be reported under those diagnoses During the rainy season of 1995 (Jun-Aug), there were at least 2 reported chikungunya outbreaks which ‘might indicate that it is a re-emerging disease in Thailand. However, there is stil limited information and knowledge on some aspects of this disease such as clinical manifestations, subclinical cases, duration of illness, complications, transmission, immunity, and reservoirs. Thus, the objectives of this paper are to 65 years). In September there were only 81 cases reported from 2 districts of which 77 cases (95%) were from Seka District (30 males, 47 females) Among this group, 79% were aged between 10-64 Table 1 Larval survey indices by administrative area, Seka District, Nong Khai Province. Index Designated sanitary health __‘Non-designated sanitary health district? (village 1) district (village 2) Breteaut 320 240 Container* 43.1 29.6 House® 93.3 86.6 * Breteau index ¥ Container index « House index = number of house(s) with « Government provides basic values and sanitation service ‘number of containers) Vol 28 No.2 June 1997 ber of contig) with t east one larva in 100 surveyed hose = with at least one larva x 100 surveyed containers. "Tea one ave 100 srveyed house, inet ae 361