Chikungunya Emerging Health Crises in Pakistan Are we Going in the Right Direction

Authors: Ahmed A*, Tanveer M and Khan GM

DOI: 10.23880/oajpr-16000110

Volume 1, Issue 2

Abstract

The unstable health care system of Pakistan saw a major setback in the form of dengue outbreak in 2011. Despite massive governmental efforts, with each passing year dengue continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Latest health care crisis has emerged in the form of Chikungunya alpha virus outbreak. The virus is of the family Togaviridae, causing symptoms ranging from mild to severe fever, nausea, joint pain and rashes. The viral pathogenesis is yet to be completely delineated. Recent investigations have shed light on the process of viral replication in affected tissues and organs. In addition, it has also been reported that disease severity has a correlation with both viral load and the release of cytokines [1]. The name Chikungunya is derived from Tanzanian language, Kimakonde, meaning to “to become contorted”, and is spread by the bite of female mosquitoes of the genus Aedes Aegypti and A. Albopictus (Asian tiger). The alarming situation of chikungunya out break got prominence in Pakistan when its cases were confirmed on 22 December 2016.

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