Chikungunya outbreak in Kassala State, Sudan’s Ministry of Health

Chikungunya outbreak in Kasala State, Sudan

The Sudan Federal Ministry of Health has reported more than 6,200 chikungunya cases in the current outbreak in Sudan’s northeastern state of Kassala, according to a Radio Danaga report last week.

However, the health sector says the number of people affected is much higher than official numbers.

Kassala State Governor Adam Jamaa says seven chikungunya related fatalities have been reported.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.

The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and Zika, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where they are common. As there is no cure, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.