Chikungunya in Southeast Asia: understanding the emergence and finding solutions

Rojjanaporn Pulmanausahakul; Sittiruk Roytrakul; Prasert Auewarakul; Duncan R Smith

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2011.06.002

Chikungunya in Southeast Asia: understanding the emergence and finding solutions

Int J Infect Dis. 2011 Oct;15(10):e671-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2011.06.002. Epub 2011 Jul 19.

Authors

Rojjanaporn Pulmanausahakul¹, Sittiruk Roytrakul, Prasert Auewarakul, Duncan R Smith

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, 25/25 Phuttamontol Sai 4, Salaya, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand 73170.

PMID: 21775183
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2011.06.002

Abstract

In the last few years, chikungunya has become a major problem in Southeast Asia, with large numbers of cases being reported in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Much of the current epidemic of chikungunya in Southeast Asia is being driven by the emergence of a strain of chikungunya virus that originated in Africa and spread to islands in the Indian Ocean, as well as to India and Sri Lanka, and then onwards to Southeast Asia. There is currently no specific treatment for chikungunya and no vaccine is available for this disease. This review seeks to provide a short update on the reemergence of chikungunya in Southeast Asia and the prospects for control of this disease.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Alphavirus Infections / prevention & control*
Alphavirus Infections / transmission
Animals
Asia, Southeastern / epidemiology
Chikungunya Fever
Chikungunya virus* / immunology
Emergencies / epidemiology
Humans
Insect Control
Viral Vaccines

Substances

Viral Vaccines