HUNDREDS IN MUARA ENIM SUFFERING FROM CIKUNGUNYA

Muara Enim, South Sumatra, Dec. 29 (ANTARA) - About 50 percent of 1100 residents or 240 families at Guci village, Ujan Mas sub district, were believed to be infected with Cikungunya.

"Since the past two months, inhabitants in our village are ill with symptoms such as joint pain and fever," Sidaman, a local villager, said here on Tuesday.

Hersan, Guci village head, confirmed that almost half of the village's residents were currently ill.

Muara Enim District Head Muzakir has instructed the local health authorities to deal with cikungunya at the village.

Chikungunya virus disease, which occurs mainly in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, is a viral illness that is spread by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The disease resembles dengue fever, and is characterized by severe, sometimes persistent, joint pain (arthritis), as well as fever and rash.

The Aedes mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya breed in a wide variety of man-made containers which are common around human dwellings.