TRAVEL ASSOCIATED CASES OF CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER (CHIKF) IN ISLAMABAD DECEMBER, 2016

Due to significant climate changes in Pakistan and other Asian countries, the rising temperature has supported outbreak of many Arboviral illnesses. Cases of Chikungunya, an arboviral disease, started to surface in the second week of November, 2016. Karachi being the largest city of Pakistan, a large number of people travel from Karachi to other areas of Pakistan every day. Two cases travelled from Karachi to Islamabad and developed flu like illness with high grade fever and body aches. Both cases were hospitalized and investigated for conclusive diagnosis. Investigations revealed that both cases were positive for Chikungunya fever. These were first travel associated cases in Islamabad, originated from Karachi. After identification of these cases, necessary preventive & control measures were taken by local health authorities to contain the spread of disease. Dengue and Chikungunya transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures in all dengue endemic areas because there is a potential risk of massive Chikungunya outbreaks in areas where the vector is populated.