GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

CHIKUNGUNYA
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is chikungunya ?

Chikungunya is a fever caused by Chikungunya virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

which breads in clean water stagnation in artificial containers.

2. What are the signs and symptoms of Chikungunya?

One to three days fever followed by headache, vomiting, photophobia, joint pain and swelling with or
without rashes. If the fever lasts for more than 3 days, investigations are to be carried out to rule out
the other causes.

3. How to differentiate with other fevers?

The fever will not last long for more than 3 days. The joint swelling and pain will persist even after
the recovery from the fever. The swelling and joint pain may persist 1- 3 weeks or even months
depending on the age of the patient.

4. How chikungunya is transmitted?

There is no direct transmission from the infected person to healthy person. It is transmitted by the
bite of the infected mosquito.

5. Will Chikungunya cause death?

No. Worldwide statistics and WHO reports clearly show that Chikungunya do not cause death.
There may be deaths due to various other causes during Chikungunya out break. These deaths are
often reported in the media as due to Chikungunya which is incorrect.

6. Is there specific treatment for Chikungunya?

There is no specific treatment but drugs like paracetamol, diclofenac sodium, chlroquine are used to
relieve fever, joint pains and swelling. Drugs like asprin and steroids should be avoided.

7. Is there any treatment under Indian System of Medicine?

Yes, effective medicine are available. The following medicines are being used.

a. Sudharsana sooranam
b. Threethoda tablets
c. Nilavembu Kudineer
d. Pinda thailam - External use
e. Karpoorathi thailam - External use

8. What is the situation in Tamil Nadu ?

Now the disease is in the verge of total elimination.

9. Is there a vaccine for Chikungunya?

No.

10. Whether the person once recovered from the disease will he/ she get it again?

No. One attack of Chikungunya will give life long immunity .

11. Do we need a blood test for all Chikungunya cases?

No. There is no need to do blood test to confirm Chikungunya. Clinical diagnosis is enough. Fever
with joint pain followed by swelling are the cardinal signs of Chikungunya.

12. How did Chikungunya occurred after 42 years?

The first out break of Chikungunya reported during 1963 at Calcutta and in 1964 in Chennai. Due to
the change in the structure of the virus the disease has re-emerged.

13. What is the status in Tamil Nadu?

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The first outbreak of Chikungunya reported in Vellore on 20 March 2006 and thereafter spread to
other parts of Tamil Nadu. The worst affected districts are Vellore, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and
Krishnagiri districts.

Till October 2006 there are 64,500 cases

14. What is the best way to prevent Chikungunya ?

There is no direct human to human transmission. The infection is transmitted only through bite
of infected mosquito. The best way of prevention is to eliminate domestic and peridomestic breeding
of mosquitoes.
15. Where do the Aedes agypti mosquito breed?

The Aedes agypti mosquito breeds in clean water stored in artificial water containers within the
house. These mosquito also breeds in discarded and unused containers like coconut shells,
grinding stone, plastic cups, old tyres, mud pots etc.

16. How to eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes?

Remove all unwanted water containers around the houses

Inside the house, the easiest way is to cover all water containers with cloth including the cement
tubs, drums and vessels. This will prevent mosquitoes laying of eggs and thereby prevent mosquito
breeding.

17. What is ‘Operation Chikungunya 2006’?

Operation Chikungunya 2006 includes:

• Breeding source reduction measures

• Anti larval activities by application of temiphos
• Anti adult measures by fogging operations
 • Intensified IEC activities

18. How Operation Chikungunya 2006 is carried out?

The PHC area is divided into 6 day blocks. Each day block is allotted to a group of health
workers. Every day the team will go to their allotted areas, visit house to house and carry out all the
above said activities. Nearly 35,000 health functionaries are involved in these activities.

19. How anti larval and anti adult measures are carried out?

Temephos is a chemical used to carry out anti larval activities. 2.5 ml in 10 litres of clean water will
give a dilution less than 1 ppm. This stock solution is applied to the water containers based on the
height of the water columns.

Pyrethrum extracts is used to carry out anti adult measures by fogging operation.

20. Are these chemicals hazardous to human beings and animals?

No. These chemicals are very safe for human beings and animals in the dilutions used for anti
larval activities.

21. What are the other diseases transmitted by aedes agypti mosquitoes?

Dengue and Yellow fever

22. What are the other diseases transmitted by other types of mosquitoes?

Anopheline mosquito which breeds in clean water like wells, overhead tanks and sumps – transmits
malaria

Culex mosquito which breeds in sewage and sullage water, drains and septic tanks - transmits
filariasis.

Another species of culex mosquito which breeds in paddy fields - transmits Japanese Encephalitis
(Brain fever)

23. What are the personal protective measures against mosquito bites?

Mosquito nets and repellants