An imported case of Chikungunya fever from Madagascar: use of the sentinel traveller for detecting emerging arboviral infections in tropical and European countries

Travel Med Infect Dis. 2009 Jan;7(1):52-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.10.001. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Abstract

A major Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) epidemic affected the South-Western Indian Ocean islands in 2005. This major outbreak raised concerns about the possibility of the emergence of CHIKV infections in Europe as an autochthonous CHIKV outbreak occurred in the Ravenna region of Italy during the summer of 2007 and was linked to a viraemic index case originating in Kerala, India. This report highlights the need for surveillance in countries where such emerging infections could be introduced by returning travellers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Alphavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Alphavirus Infections / transmission
  • Arthritis, Infectious / virology*
  • Chikungunya virus / isolation & purification*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Madagascar / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Travel*
  • Young Adult