Chikungunya
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You are here: Home » Microbiology Notes » Chikungunya
Alternative names: Buggy Creek virus
Properties:
- Family: Togaviridae
- Genus: Alphavirus
- A positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus,Chikungunya virus is highly infective and disabling but is not transmissible between people.
- It would most likely be dispensed as an aerosol or by the release of infected mosquitos.
- The disabling joint pain and fever, the lack of a suitable animal reservoir in Western countries and its lack of lethality make it a very "clean" weapon that could be used against key civilian installations.
- The name comes from the Swahili for "that which bends up" that is a reference to the positions that victims take to relieve the joint pain.
Vector involvement: The disease is spread by culicine mosquitoes.
Diagnosis:
- Detection of antigens or antibody to the agent in the blood (serology)
- ELISA is available
- An IgM capture ELISA is necessary to distinguish the disease from dengue fever.
Vaccination (Immunoprophylaxis): A vaccine is not available.
Category: Microbiology Notes
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