World’s first Chikungunya vaccine developed

US researchers have developed a vaccine for chikungunyafever made from an insect-specific virus that does not have any effect on people, making the vaccine safe and effective. The study indicated that the vaccine quickly produces a strong immune defense and completely protects mice and nonhuman primates from disease when exposed to the chikungunya virus. The findings were published in journal of Nature Medicine. “This vaccine offers efficient, safe and affordable protection against chikungunya and builds the foundation for using viruses that only infect insects to develop vaccines against other insect-borne…

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Chikungunya cases in Mumbai touch 5-year high

It’s Just Tip of Iceberg, Say Doctors. The incidence of chikungunyain Mumbai has touched a five-year high this year with 60 confirmed cases being reported so far. The disease situation though is remarkably better than Pune that has reported nearly 2,500 cases. The first few cases of the `breakbone fever’ were reported in October followed by a steady stream of patients through November and December. From not reporting a single case last year, the positive cases jumped to 60 in just a span of three months this year. In 2012,…

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Malaria killed more than dengue, chikungunya

Malaria turns out to be the biggest killer among all mosquito-borne diseases in Delhi this year. According to the latest municipal corporation report, the disease, which seems to be on the wane in the city, has claimed 17 lives this season. While dengue has caused six deaths, no deaths have been attributed to chikungunya, which took to epidemic proportions affecting over 10,000 people. The malaria toll is significant because, according to data collated under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Delhi has not witnessed a single death from the…

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Confirmed Cases of Chikungunya Soar in Brazil

Brazil’s Health Ministry says that cases of chikungunya are soaring this year in Latin America’s biggest country. The ministry said Thursday there have been 134,910 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease so far in 2016. Last year the total was 8,528. Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits the Zika virus and dengue fever. People infected with the chikungunya experience fatigue, nausea, high fever and joint pain or swelling. Experts have linked the Zika virus to microcephaly, a rare defect that can cause…

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Dengue Claimed 179 Lives, no Death Due to Chikungunya: Government

Dengue has claimed 179 lives across the country this year while no death has been reported due to chikungunya, though it affected 21,000 people, the Rajya Sabha was told today. “During 2016 (till November 13), a total number of 179 deaths due to dengue and no death due to chikungunya has been reported in the country. “The number of positive cases for dengue and chikungunya in the country during 2016 (till November 13) are 90,277 and 21,094 respectively,” Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply. He said…

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Chikungunya rears head again in Mumbai

Chikungunya, the breakbone fever, has made a comeback to Mumbai after a span of one and a half years.The BMC on Thursday confirmed four cases of the viral disease that wreaked havoc in Delhi this year, affecting thousands and its complications claiming 13 lives. The health report from the civic body stated that at least 20 more people are suspected to be suffering from the disease that spreads through the bite of the same aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits dengue. Physicians from the private sector are not surprised by the…

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