23 Dead from Mosquito Bites... 20,000 Infected in Paraguay 'Fear'

Rapid Increase in Chikungunya Fever Cases in Paraguay
Causes High Fever and Rash... No Vaccine Available

In Paraguay, South America, cases of chikungunya fever transmitted by mosquitoes are rapidly increasing.

According to ABC Color and others on the 22nd (local time), the cumulative number of chikungunya fever infections in Paraguay has approached 20,000 this year. In particular, the number of chikungunya fever cases in the past three weeks has surged to 11,864.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Deaths are also continuing. This year, 22 people who contracted chikungunya fever have died, and including one person last year, a total of 23 people have died in the past three to four months. It is understood that three of them were infants under one year old.

Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease accompanied by high fever, joint pain, headache, and rash. It was first discovered in Tanzania in 1950 and mainly occurs in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. In 2007, more than 21,000 citizens in Gabon were infected with chikungunya fever.

In cases of severe pain, patients are known to suffer so much that they cannot sit or stand on their own. Most patients recover without aftereffects, but in some cases, joint pain can persist for several years and cause severe complications such as myocarditis and meningitis. Currently, there is no officially approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Guillermo Sequera, head of Paraguay's Disease Control Agency, said, "All the deceased had underlying diseases," and "It is presumed that chikungunya fever played a role in worsening the conditions of the existing diseases."

Meanwhile, the Paraguayan government has issued a chikungunya fever advisory and recommended residents refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.