Capital reports first case of chikungunya

Patient recently travelled to Karachi where cases have been detected

ISLAMABAD: After four cases were confirmed in Karachi late last year, a resident of Islamabad has been tested positive for chikungunya.

The patient, identified as Rizwan, was admitted to the medical ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Tuesday. Associate professor Fareeda Tahir said that he patient had complained of a rash and fever.

The patient was subsequently placed under observation for suspicion of chikungunya in isolation at the hospital. His polymerase chain reaction test was subsequently dispatched to the National Institute of Health (NIH). On Thursday his test results came back positive.

Despite the fact that the patient is a resident of Islamabad he had recently visited Karachi for two days.

Tahir said that the patient is stable and recovering. He has been kept at an isolated location in the hospital with mosquito nets in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

All aspects of patient care and steps to prevent the spread of disease by mosquitoes are being observed, said a hospital source.

Chikungunya surfaced in the country after some patients suffering from high fever and joint pain were taken to a medical facility in Malir area of Karachi in December. Reports suggested that over 3,000 people were infected with the virus, while the NIH only confirmed four cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2017.