Chikungunya cases spiked by 382% — DOH

Chikungunya cases recorded in the Philippines have increased sharply by 382% from Jan. 1 to Dec. 2 compared to the same period last year, monitoring data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

This year, chikungunya cases soared to 2,889 from 600 last year, based on DOH's epidemic-prone disease case surveillance report.

Fifteen cases were reported in the country from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 alone.

Most of the cases this year were logged in the Cordillera Administrative Region with 1,146.

This was followed by Mimaropa with 465, Cagayan Valley with 394, and Ilocos Region with 374.

No patients, however, died because of the mosquito-borne viral disease in the past two years.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rashes.

To date, there are no approved vaccines or treatment for chikungunya virus infections. — VDV, GMA Integrated News