THE preliminary investigations into the ‘mysterious fever’ that wreaked havoc in at least five districts of Andhra Pradesh in January this year has pointed towards mosquito-transmitted virus as the cause behind it. This arthropod-borne virus — chikungunya virus — was found to be behind the ‘mysterious fever’ by a team of scientists from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) here.
The team that visited the districts and collected the samples are yet to finalise their report, but prima facie investigations have all pointed towards the chikungunya virus. They will soon be sending a detailed report to the Union Ministry of Health soon.
Though NIV director A C Mishra could not be contacted to ascertain the findings of the investigation, highly placed sources told Newsline that chikungunya virus was transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Incidentally, it is the same species of mosquito that causes dengue too.
High fever, chill, severe headache followed by acute joint and muscle pains are the symptoms of the infection. Fever persists for three days and pain for seven days or more depending upon the resistance of the patient.
Chikungunya virus is highly-infective and disabling. The name comes from Swahili and means ‘that which bends up’ giving a reference to the positions that victims take to relieve the joint pain. Chikungunya is responsible for extensive Aedes Aegypti-transmitted urban disease in Africa and is also the cause for epidemic in Asia. The crippling arthralgia and frequent arthritis that accompany the fever and other systemic symptoms are clinically distinct.
Meanwhile, the NIV has recently been designated as the centre for testing suspected cases of avian flu. However, Mishra said there were no cases of avian flu in the city.
The NIV has also collaborated with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) for the development of a recombinant vaccine.