Sudan: Chikungunya outbreaks in Kassala and Port Sudan /update 2

Event

A chikungunya outbreak continues across Kassala state. According to health officials, at least 15,944 cases have been reported since the beginning of the year, as of early November, including more than 150 fatalities. Further spread of the disease is to be anticipated in the coming days and weeks. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported some cases of dengue fever in the state.

On a related note, health authorities in Port Sudan (Red Sea state) have reported six cases of chikungunya. The outbreaks follows heavy rains that affected both areas at the beginning of the month.

Context

The outbreak follows heavy rains that affected the area at the beginning of the month and led to the flooding of a major river in Kassala.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms include high fever, joint and muscle pain, rash, headache, nausea, and fatigue. The virus is rarely fatal but lingering joint pain can last for several weeks, even months, after the initial recovery. No treatment or vaccine for the virus is currently available.

Advice

Individuals in Sudan are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).