ADDIS ABABA, Aug.29 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of Chikungunya disease has infected 15, 192 individuals, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday.
Mesfin Wossen, Provisional Director of Ethiopia Public Health Institute (PHI), said his organization has so far registered 15,192 Chikungunya patients, reported state media outlet Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It is rarely fatal, and symptoms are generally self-limiting and last two to three days.
Wossen said there have been no fatalities from the Chikungunya outbreak which occurred in the eastern Dire Dawa city, in part due to proactive measures undertaken by PHI to treat patients timely.
Chikungunya, which has similar clinical signs with dengue cases, previously affected Ethiopia's Somali, Afar, and Southern regional states.
Wossen further called on the public to assist in the fumigation of Chikungunya vulnerable localities in Dire Dawa city, drain any open stored rain waters and cover with clothes any watery objects.
Chikungunya can be detected using serological tests and recovery from Chikungunya infection will also confer lifelong immunity.
