Announcement

**eladdie** · February 18, 2006, 05:12 PM

Re: Chick in India

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060218011451&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0

Now it's in the water.

Viral fever: Central team visits Nalgonda
Saturday February 18 2006 11:36 IST

NALGONDA: A Central team of doctors on Friday visited the district to learn about the viral fevers that had affected the people recently.

The team collected water samples from Choutuppal, Lakkaram, China Kondur, Dasarajpalli and Panagal villages and said there was a virus called ?chikun bunya? in the water.

They also said that the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which breed in water, could cause fevers. The patient will suffer from fever and pain in knee joints for a week. However the doctors said, people need not fear, as the fever was not fatal.

District Collector Vijayanand said awareness camps would be held to sensitise people on causes for fever.

**emmysue** · February 27, 2006, 09:38 PM

Re: Chick in India

Killed by a mozzie bite
Feb 10 2006
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk...name_page.html

AN INFECTION from a mosquito bite during a foreign holiday killed a man by rotting his internal organs, an inquest heard.

Matthew Kernot, 36, was found dead in bed at his flat in Ravenstone Street, Balham, by paramedics after a trip to India.

An inquest on Tuesday was told Mr Kernot had suffered from an infection that caused his liver to rot and his spleen to semi-liquefy.

He had also suffered heart and kidney failure and fluid had filled his lungs.

The financial analyst, originally from Newport on the Isle of Wight, had started to feel unwell while on holiday in southern India after suffering mosquito bites that had started to "ooze".
Nine days later he was dead.

He had returned to London on November 18, and been off work complaining of a variety of symptoms including headaches, vomiting, fever and a painful abdomen.

He had gone to his local doctor's surgery four times in a week.

But a number of tests, including liver function procedures, did not reveal his deteriorating condition.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard that despite the trips to the doctor complaining of illness, numerous tests failed to show he had the rare life-threatening infection, which was not malaria.

His partner, Christina Devaney said he had appeared "perkier" after a final appointment with GP Dr Ai Lechi two days before his death.

She went away for the Saturday after Mr Kernot said he felt better, but kept in touch with him via text and mobile phone.

She returned to find paramedics in their flat.

Pathologist Dr Peter Wilkins said a postmortem revealed the cause of death was major organ failure caused by septicaemia.

He said insect bites "would have been the opportunity for organisms to get into the body at that time".

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: "The story is not very usual and the outcome is an absolute tragedy."

Dr Knapman recorded a verdict of death from natural causes.

DB · March 3, 2006, 11:34 PM

La Reunion Quarantined? (No)

MACHINE TRANSLATION BELOW

http://www.clicanoo.com/article.php3?id_article=124515

SANT?
R?unionnais en quarantaine
Le directeur de l?auberge de jeunesse de la Cit? des sciences ne veut pas de ?a chez lui. Pas des douze jeunes et quatre accompagnateurs qui ont envisag? de s?journer dans son honorable ?tablissement. Ils ont en effet l?inconv?nient d??tre R?unionnais, donc chikunguny?s, donc hautement contagieux. En revanche, on esp?re que la b?tise de cet homme ne l?est pas.

[4 mars 2006]


?La connerie humaine est un perp?tuel sujet d??merveillement?. Guy Kiffer, le directeur d?une auberge de jeunesse parisienne vient d?apporter une grosse barrique d?eau au moulin de Claude Chabrol, scrutateur attentif de la nature humaine et auteur de ce mot savoureux. Pour les responsables de l?Arvel (Association r?unionnaise pour les voyages vacances, les ?changes et les loisirs), en revanche, la ?connerie humaine? serait plut?t source de consternation. Eux qui avaient envisag? de r?server des chambres dans l?auberge de jeunesse que dirige le Kiffer en question se retrouvent aujourd?hui plong?s dans un abyme de consternation.
??A FAIT L?EFFET D?UNE MISE EN QUARANTAINE? Tout commence l?ann?e derni?re lorsque les responsables de l?Arvel, une association sp?cialis?e dans les s?jours de vacances pour les jeunes, d?cident d?organiser un voyage en m?tropole. Le programme se dessine. Paris constitue l?une des ?tapes. ?En janvier, nous avons pris contact avec cette auberge de jeunesse qui r?pond aux agr?ments jeunesse et sport, explique ?ric Romano, l?un des initiateurs de ce s?jour. Nous avions pos? une option pour une r?servation du 16 au 19 mars prochain. Lorsqu?on leur a demand? de nous envoyer une convention, on a re?u un email qui nous a fait tr?s mal.? Attention, c?est du lourd : ?Suite ? l??pid?mie de chicungunya (sic) qui frappe l??le de la R?union actuellement, nous sommes au regret d?annuler votre option 603059. Cette d?cision est une mesure de prudence et de pr?vention sanitaires, nous esp?rons que vous comprendrez notre position vis-?-vis des autres groupes. Nous esp?rons n?anmoins que nous continuerons ? travailler ensemble.?
CHIKUNGUNY?S ET PESTIF?R?S
Voil?. En quelques lignes, un sombre idiot vient de d?cr?ter un embargo sur les R?unionnais. Que les touristes ne veuillent plus venir chez nous, c?est une chose. Mais que les R?unionnais soient confin?s sur leur ?le, c?en est une autre. Car pour l?heure, aucune mesure de mise en quarantaine n?a ?t? ordonn?e par une quelconque autorit?. Sauf par cet hurluberlu. Les responsables associatifs, eux, ne cachent pas leur col?re et leur indignation. ?C?est tout simplement inadmissible. Quelle justification correcte et l?gale peut-il avancer pour refuser d?h?berger des R?unionnais ?? Rapha?l Dijoux, vice-pr?sident de l?Arvel, en perd son latin. ?Comment de tels propos peuvent ?tre tenus, surtout par rapport aux valeurs qui sont v?hicul?es par les auberges de jeunesse ?? Tous ont du mal ? encaisser le coup. Surtout que les jeunes, ?g?s de 14 ? 18 ans, se sont consid?rablement investis dans ce projet que tous veulent voir aboutir. Car maintenant, il va falloir trouver un plan B. ?On est atterr?. On ne veut pas remettre en cause ce voyage uniquement ? cause de la d?cision de ce monsieur. C?est pour cela qu?on a contact? la f?d?ration des auberges de jeunesse qui s?est engag?e ? trouver une solution.? Reste que les responsables de l?Arvel ne craignent qu?une chose : que la d?cision de Guy Kiffer ne fasse boule de neige. Et que sa psychose du chikungunya soit r?ellement contagieuse. ?Malgr? les ballets minist?riels, on peut dire qu?il y a encore des efforts ? faire niveau communication.? Parce que se rendre en m?tropole ou ailleurs avec une combinaison ?tanche, aucun R?unionnais n?y a encore s?rieusement song?.
Pierrick Chatel

Guy Kiffer, directeur de l?auberge de jeunesse de la Cit? des sciences, au Pr? Saint-Gervais (Seine-Saint-Denis) : ?J?ai ?cras? un moustique cette semaine?
Nous avons contact? le directeur de l?auberge de la Cit? des Sciences. Sans rien inventer de ses r?ponses, promis jur?.
?Vous savez, ?a m?a surpris d?en voir un, mais cette semaine, j?ai ?cras? un moustique dans l?auberge.? Guy Kiffer, directeur de l?auberge de la Cit? des Sciences, joint par t?l?phone hier apr?s-midi, est affirmatif. Et pas g?n?, surtout. Il nous apprend donc que la bestiole r?siste aux temp?ratures que l?on peut qualifier de ?basses? (pas plus de 10?C sur la r?gion parisienne, en ce moment, selon M?t?o-France). Le monsieur a donc pris la d?cision de ne pas recevoir les R?unionnais ?en toute connaissance de cause?. ?Je me suis renseign? aupr?s de l?Institut Pasteur qui m?a dit qu?on pouvait ?tre contamin? si on ?tait piqu? par un moustique ayant lui m?me piqu? un porteur du chikungunya?. S?est-il inqui?t? de savoir si parmi les R?unionnais du voyage, certains ?taient atteints par le virus ? Non, pas besoin. ?Mais vous savez, je pense qu?on ne fait pas voyager des enfants malades.? C?est s?r, mon gars. Sait-il quel moustique est vecteur du CHIK ? ?L?institut Pasteur m?a parl? d?un moustique pr?sent en m?tropole.? Mais lequel, il n?en sait rien.
?Vous savez, on a un petit jardin ? proximit? de l?auberge. Il y a donc un potentiel de moustiques.? Au mois de mars, c?est s?r. Et son potentiel de couillonisse, il y a pens? ? ?Ouais, mais vous savez, je me suis positionn? en pensant ? mes enfants et aux jeunes que j?accueille. Cette auberge, c?est un lieu de passage.? Effectivement. ?Et puis en ce moment, y?a aussi la grippe aviaire. On sait plus ? quoi s?en tenir.? ? la rambarde, peut-?tre ? ?Je sais que c?est compliqu? d?annuler un voyage, j?en ai moi m?me fait l?exp?rience.? C?est bien. Et sinon, Monsieur, vous comprenez que votre d?cision peut heurter les R?unionnais, qui gr?ce ? vous, se sentent un peu comme des pestif?r?s ? ?Bon, dans le mail, j?ai essay? d??tre le plus d?licat possible.? Ce ?professionnel? n?a pas la m?me d?finition du mot ?d?licat? que nous. Si on vient chez vous, c?est avec une tenue de cosmonaute, alors ? ?Bon, bon, j?ai du ?tre tr?s maladroit, alors. Je leur passerai un coup de fil?. Ouais, c?est ?a. On termine cet entretien surr?aliste par une question. Une seule. ?? aucun moment, dans vos r?ponses, vous n?avez fait de l?humour ??, lui demande-t-on. Le Kiffer ne comprend pas. ?Vous savez, je ne rigole pas avec la maladie?, assure-t-il. Nous non plus. C?est m?me ? en pleurer.

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...ticle%3d124515

HEALTH
Réunionnais in quarantine
The director of l?auberge of youth of the City of sciences does not want that at his place. Not of the twelve young people and four guides who planned to remain in his honourable establishment. They have indeed l?inconvénient d?être Réunionnais, therefore chikungunyés, therefore highly contagious. On the other hand, it is hoped that the silly thing of this man l?est not.

[ March 4, 2006 ]


?La human connery is a perpetual subject d?émerveillement?. Guy Kiffer, the director d?une inn of Parisian youth comes d?apporter a large barrel d?eau to the mill from Claude Chabrol, attentive teller of the human nature and author of this tasty word. For the persons in charge for l?Arvel (Association réunionnaise for the voyages holidays, exchanges and leisures), on the other hand, the ̴connery humaine? would cause rather consternation. They which had planned to hold rooms in l?auberge of youth that directs Kiffer in question find aujourd?hui plunged in a abyme of consternation.
?ÇA MAKES L?EFFET D?UNE PUT IN QUARANTAINE? All starts l?année last when the persons in charge for l?Arvel, an association specialized in the stays of holidays for the young people, decide d?organiser a voyage in metropolis. The program takes shape. Paris constitutes l?une stages. ?En January, we contacted this inn of youth which answers approvals youth and sport, explains Éric Romano, l?un initiators of this stay. We had posed an option for a reservation from the 16 to next 19 March. Lorsqu?on their required to send a convention to us, one received an email which made us very mal.? Attention, c?est of the heavy one : ?Suite with ḻepidemy of chicungunya (sic) which currently strikes l?île Meeting, we regret d?annuler your option 603059. This decision is a safety measure and of prevention medical, we hope that you will include/understand our position with respect to the other groups. We hope nevertheless that we will continue to work ensemble.?
CHIKUNGUNYÉS AND PESTIFÉRÉS
Here. In some lines, a dreadful idiot comes to issue an embargo on Réunionnais. That the tourists do not want to come any more on our premises, c?est a thing. But that Réunionnais are confined on their island, c?en is another. Because for l?heure, any measurement of setting in quarantine n?a ordered by an unspecified authority. Except by this hurluberlu. The associative persons in charge, them, do not hide their anger and their indignation. ?C?est quite simply inadmissible. Which correct and legal justification can it advance to refuse d?héberger of Réunionnais ?? Raphaël Dijoux, vice-president of l?Arvel, lose its Latin of it. ?Comment of such remarks can be held, especially compared to the values which are conveyed by the inns of youth ?? All have evil to box the blow. Especially that the young people, old from 14 to 18 years, invested themselves considerably in this project that all want to see succeeding. Because now, it will be necessary to find a plan B ?On is dismayed. One does not want to call into question this voyage only because of the decision of this Mister. C?est for that qu?on contacted the federation of the inns of youth which s?est committed to find a solution.? Remain that the persons in charge for l?Arvel do not fear qu?une thing : that the decision of Guy Kiffer does not make ball of snow. And that its psychosis of the chikungunya is really contagious. ?Malgré the ministerial ballets, one can say qu?il has still efforts there to make level communication.? Because to go in metropolis or elsewhere with a tight combination, no Réunionnais n?y still seriously thought.
Pierrick Chatel

Guy Kiffer, director of l?auberge of youth of the City of sciences, in Pre Saint-Gervais (Seine-Saint-Denis) : ?J?ai crushed a mosquito this semaine?
We contacted the director of l?auberge City of Sciences. Without anything to invent its answers, promised sworn.
?Vous can, that m?a surprised d?en see one, but this week, j?ai crushed a mosquito in l?auberge.? Guy Kiffer, director of l?auberge of the City of Sciences, joined by telephone yesterday afternoon, is affirmative. And not obstructed, especially. He thus teaches us that the small beast resists the temperatures that l?on can qualify ?basses? (not more 10°C on the Paris area, in this moment, according to Weather-France). The Mister thus made the decision not to receive Réunionnais ?en any knowledge of cause?. ?Je am well informed for me near l?Institut Pasteur which m?a known as qu?on could be contaminated if one were piqué by a mosquito having to him even piqué a carrier of the chikungunya?. S?est it worried to know if among Réunionnais of the voyage, some were reached by the virus ? Not, not need. you know, I ?Mais think qu?on does not make travel of the children malades.? Sure C?est, my guy. Does it know which mosquito is vector of the CHIK ? ?L?institut Pasteur m?a spoken d?un mosquito present in métropole.? But which, it n?en knows anything.
?Vous know, one has a small garden near l?auberge. There is thus a potential of moustiques.? In c?est, sure March. And did its potential of couillonisse, it thought there ? ?Ouais, but you know, I positioned by thinking of my children and the young people that j?accueille. This inn, c?est a place of passage.? Indeed. ?Et then in this moment, y?a also aviary influenza. One knows more with what s?en tenir.? With rambarde, perhaps ? ?Je know that c?est complicated d?annuler a voyage, j?en have me even made l?expérience.? C?est well. And if not, Sir, you understand that your decision can run up against Réunionnais, which thanks to you, smell yourselves a little like pestiférés ? ?Bon, in mall, j?ai tested d?être the most delicate possible.? This ?professionnel? n?a not the same definition of the word ?délicat? that us. If one comes on your premise, c?est with a behaviour of cosmonaut, then ? ?Bon, good, j?ai of the very awkward being, then. I will pass a blow of fil? to them;. Ouais, c?est that. One finishes this surrealist maintenance by a question. Only one. ?À no moment, in your answers, you n?avez makes l?humour ??, ask him one. Kiffer does not include/understand ?Vous know, I do not laugh with the maladie?, ensure it. Us either. C?est to be even cried about it.

**Cazandra** · March 4, 2006, 04:01 PM

Re: La Reunion Quarantined? (No)

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The cancellation has now been reviewed, and the reservation of the young people of Reunion has been has been accepted once again. They admit that they had a poor understanding of the chik disease, and now have the real facts:

http://www.chikungunya.net/Communique/communique.htm
================================================== ====

CONFIRMATION DE RESERVATION
du 16 au 19 mars 2006

Auberge de jeunesse de la cité des sciences

A la suite de l'article du Journal de l'Ile de La Réunion de ce jour faisant état de la décision initiale de la direction de "l’auberge de jeunesse de la Cité des sciences" situé au Pré Saint-Gervais (93- Seine-Saint-Denis) de refuser des jeunes réunionnais dans leur établissement et face au sentiment d'indignation et d'incompréhension qui s'en est suivi au niveau de nos internautes sur ce forum et de toute la population réunionnaise en générale, la Direction de l'établissement, mal informée des risques réels de l'épidémie et de la maladie du chikungunya à décidé de revenir sur sa position et accepte de recevoir les jeunes réunionnais dans son établissement.

Nous leur remercions de leur nouvelle décision et remercions également le Journal de l'Ile pour nous avoir rapporté cette situation.

Nous ne pouvons qu'inciter tous les particuliers et professionnels métropolitains à venir s'informer de la réalité du virus chikungunya et de ses conséquences tant sur la santé physique de la population qu'économique de l'île et à prendre leurs décisions en conséquence, tant pour accepter ou refuser d'aller séjourner dans ce département que pour accepter ou refuser de recevoir des habitants de la Réunion en métropole en fonction des RISQUES REELS encourus aussi bien sur l'île que sur le continent, en fonction des dates et des localisations géographiques.

Nous souhaitons un bon séjour à nos jeunes compatriotes réunionnais et leur recommandons d'éviter tout déplacement inutile les jours qui précèdent leur départ et de se protéger contre d'éventuelles piqûres de moustiques.
Même si l'Aedes Albopictus ne sévit pas dans les couloirs du métro parisien, il est préférable de ne pas déclarer la maladie en métropole, ce qui aurait pour conséquence d'augmenter l'inquiétude de nos compatriotes métropolitain pas toujours bien informés des risques réels de cette maladie et de réconforter tous ceux qui n'attendent qu'une occasion pour mettre l'île en quarantaine sanitaire.
Cette décision d'une gravité extrême ne sera prise que si l'urgence sanitaire tant locale qu'internationale l'exige, ce qui, au vu de nos connaissances actuelles sur cette épidémie, n'est pas d'actualité.

Jean-Hugues MAUSOLE - www.chikungunya.net Paris le 04/03/2006

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Liste des documents annexés

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Mail de confirmation de réservation (PDF)
Article du Journal de l'Ile

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DB · March 4, 2006, 08:04 PM

Directions: Epidemic on R?union

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2100-2067574,00.html

Directions: Epidemic on R?union

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THE INDIAN OCEAN islands of Mauritius, R?union and the Seychelles are in the grip of a mosquito-borne epidemic that has infected thousands and killed at least 78 since February 5. The French prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, declared a state of emergency on R?union, an overseas d?partement of France, where 157,000 people ? one in five of the population ? have been affected by the disease.

The chikungunya virus (the name comes from the Swahili for ?all bent up?) broke out on R?union a year ago. Since then, the disease, for which there is no vaccine or cure, has reached Mauritius, where 1,174 have been stricken, and the Seychelles, where more than 1,000 are infected.
London?s Hospital for Tropical Diseases says that, while generally non-fatal, the disease can weaken the body and allow other infections to take hold.

Most sufferers recover after a week, but some suffer joint pains for months.
British Airways says it is monitoring the situation and following the lead of the Foreign Office, which currently advises travellers to take normal bite-avoidance measures.

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DB · March 13, 2006, 11:31 AM

Chikungunya: From Bad To Worse

http://www.actualites-news-environne...hikungunya.php
MEETING ? According to the Institute of health wakefulness (InVS) the weekly number of cases in the illness of the chikungunya diminishes for week from 5 till 12 February 2006. The chikungunya attained 204.000 on the island of Meeting since the beginning of the epidemic, among which 3.115 cases in the course of last week of counting. However InVS adds that the data of these last two weeks are not still consolidated, this evolution must be confirmed all the more that unexpected events such as tropical depression Diwa, which affects the island since March 3rd, can contribute to change the ecology of the mosquito vector of illness.

Transmission remains very active in all arrondissements since the recrudescence of December, 2005, it was particularly intense in the east of and the southwest of the island and she stretches on the West consequently. Surveillance is based on a network of doctors sentries which allows to follow the tendencies of the epidemic at best.

An estimate from a mathematical model, based on historical series, allows to assess the total number of case introducing signs compatible with an infection in chikungunya since the beginning of the epidemic (that they have or not consulted a doctor) in about 204.000 cases, among which about 13.000 cases during the week from 27 till 5 March 2006. Between March 28th, 2005 and March 5th, 2006, 3.115 cases were notified by the doctors of network sentry of the island of Meeting, among which 196 in the course of the week from 27 till 5 March 2006.

In total, since the beginning of the epidemic, 73 persons with an infection in chikungunya confirmed biologically had a clinical serious expression of illness (neurological forms, h?patiques) who required a hospitalization in intensive care. 33 infections confirmed in chikungunya were brought back to new born old of less than 28 days. The doctors signal a risk of d?compensation linked to the effects of the high-pitched infection on the general state of the vulnerable persons, particularly one of the old persons, new born, of the immunod?prim?es persons Since January, 2006, 125 death certificates in which the chikungunya is mentioned took a census.

Situation in Mayotte: Between January 9th and March 10th, 2006, 2.833 suspicious cases of high-pitched infection in chikungunya were brought back in Mayotte, among which 179 in the course of the week from 6 till 12 March 2006. The most part of cases are identified in Grand Mamoudzou, Small Earth and the north coast of the island. The measurements of antivector conflict were reinforced since the beginning of the year.

The virus circulated in the region southwest of Indian Ocean at the beginning of the year on 2005, with particularly infectious homes identified in Comoros, in Maurice, in Seychelles, in Meeting and in Mayotte. In the waning of the installation of the Austral winter and to the end of year 2005, Comoros, island Maurice, Seychelles and Mayotte had not identified case or then any insulated cases. Since the beginning of January, 2006, there is again a circulation of the virus Chikungunya in the region.
In Seychelles, in the date of March 1st, 2006, about 4650 cases were declared since the beginning of the year (WHO source). In Comoros, in the date of March 10th, 2006, no case was signalled, since the beginning of the year (unconfirmed source). In Madagascar, 2 cases of Chikungunya, confirmed biologically, in Toamasina (coast is from the island) were notified during week from 6 till 12 March 2006. In Maurice, in the date of March 1st, 2006, 2.553 cases were notified, among which 1.173 cases confirmed biologically (WHO source).

In India, between 1 er December, 2005 and February 17th, 2006, 5.671 cases of fevered arthralgia were brought back in in Andhra Pradesh, state from the east of the Indian Union. 139 of these cases are biologically confirmed as being an infection in Chikungunya.
In the neighbouring state of Orissa, 4.904 cases of fever with myalgies and headaches were notified between February 27th and March 5th. The results of supplementary exams are in wait. Indigo is a country where the circulation of the virus Chikungunya is known.

In Meeting, epidemic being always very active and in the context of the strong rains happened at the end of last week, it is necessary to remind of importance to adopt individual behaviours which aim at protecting themselves from injections of mosquito and to contribute to the destruction of the embryonic shelters. It exists neither vaccine nor precautionary treatment against the infection in Chikungunya. The measurements of control rest therefore on efforts coupled by antivector conflict and by Community conflict to eliminate the shelters of mosquitoes.

Since the end of the Austral winter, the measurements of antivector conflict were considerably reinforced, but have to come as a supplement to the also necessary Community measurements of conflict. The whole population is concerned and must follow the daily actions of destruction of the potential shelters around houses (stagnant water in saucers, vases, buckets, refuse.)

In these conditions, the measurements of individual prevention against the injections of mosquito are very important and have to be catches in a daily manner: spray and creams, electrical distributors, streamers, long clothes and mosquito nets The pregnant women and the very young children have to make the object of adapted and particularly reinforced measurements. The mosquito vector stings the day, principally outside houses, with a more important activity at the beginning of morning and at the end of day.

The virus chikungunya is an arbovirus transmitted by a mosquito of type Aedes. It circulates especially in Eastern Africa, in Asia of the Southeast and in the Indian subcontinent.

About 4 - 7 days after the infectious injection of mosquito, a well brought up fever appears roughly. Important articular and muscular pain touching ends of the members (wrists, ankles joins it typically, phalanxes), of edemata, of headaches and, sometimes, a cutaneous eruption. Minor hemorrhages with type of ?pistaxis and gingivorragies can happen, especially at the children.

DB · March 14, 2006, 08:41 AM

Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems...radesh&Topic=0

Chikungunya grips Kurnool
Tuesday March 14 2006 12:16 IST
KURNOOL: Chikungunya had spread to all the Mandals including Kurnool Corporation in the district.

Over one lakh people, mainly in rural areas of the district, fell ill due to the disease during the last one month. District Collector Vikas Raj visited Joharapuram village, which had many patients affected with the disease, on Monday and enquired about the health of the sufferers.

He instructed Kurnool Corporation Commissioner K Venkateswarlu and Health Officer Balaramaiah to prepare an action plan for checking the spread of chikungunya in the Corporation.

He instructed officials to arrange free health camps in each ward of the Corporation. He said doctors would be deputed in Kurnool town, if necessary for the medical camps.

He suggested that the patients should not consult local RMP doctors instead go to only qualified doctors for the treatment.

DB · March 14, 2006, 08:42 AM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakh

Lakh

A lakh (also spelled lac, lacs or laksha) is a unit in a traditional number system, still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. One lakh is equal to a hundred thousand (105). A hundred lakhs make a crore or ten million

DB · March 14, 2006, 09:33 AM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

The 125 deaths on La Reunion are the reported deaths. Every two or three days more deaths are announced.

You shouldn't be to hasty to say there are ONLY x number of deaths when you are in the middle of the outbreak. You must wait till the end of the outbreak to know the true mortality rate.

Right now the deaths continue to rise for a disease that is non-fatal.

Where they will stop no one knows.

DB · March 14, 2006, 09:46 AM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/New...a-240573-1.xml

India says new H5 bird flu cases in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Tuesday that there was a fresh outbreak of avian influenza in the western state of Maharashtra, the scene of the country's first outbreak last month.
"Several poultry samples were received ... towards the end of February. Some of these samples have tested positive for avian influenza (H5)," a government statement said.

**sharon sanders** · March 14, 2006, 10:20 AM

Journal of General Virology

Re-emergence of chikungunya and o’nyong-nyong viruses: evidence for distinct geographical lineages and distant evolutionary relationships

Ann M. Powers1, Aaron C. Brault1, Robert B. Tesh1 and Scott C. Weaver1

Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA1

Author for correspondence: Ann M. Powers. Fax +1 409 747 2415. e-mail ampowers@culex.utmb.edu<SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#e1e1e1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width="5%" bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%">Abstract </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

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Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Serologically, it is most closely related to o’nyong-nyong (ONN) virus and is a member of the Semliki Forest antigenic complex. CHIK virus is believed to be enzootic throughout much of Africa and historical evidence indicates that it spread to other parts of the world from this origin. Strains from Africa and Asia are reported to differ biologically, indicating that distinct lineages may exist. To examine the relatedness of CHIK and ONN viruses using genetic data, we conducted phylogenetic studies on isolates obtained throughout Africa and Southeast Asia. Analyses revealed that ONN virus is indeed distinct from CHIK viruses, and these viruses probably diverged thousands of years ago. Two distinct CHIK virus lineages were delineated, one containing all isolates from western Africa and the second comprising all southern and East African strains, as well as isolates from Asia. Phylogenetic trees corroborated historical evidence that CHIK virus originated in Africa and subsequently was introduced into Asia. Within the eastern Africa and southern Africa/Asia lineage, Asian strains grouped together in a genotype distinct from the African groups. These different geographical genotypes exhibit differences in their transmission cycles: in Asia, the virus appears to be maintained in an urban cycle with Aedes aegypti mosquito vectors, while CHIK virus transmission in Africa involves a sylvatic cycle, primarily with Ae. furcifer and Ae. africanus mosquitoes. 

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#e1e1e1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width="5%" bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%">Introduction </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Chikungunya (CHIK) virus, a member of the Alphavirus genus in the family Togaviridae, was first isolated from the serum of a febrile human in Tanganyika (Tanzania) in 1953 (Karabatsos, 1985 ). Between the 1960s and 1980s, the virus was isolated repeatedly from numerous countries in central and southern Africa as well as in Senegal and Nigeria in western Africa. During this same period, the virus was also identified in many areas of Asia. Since 1953, CHIK virus has caused numerous well-documented outbreaks and epidemics in both Africa and Southeast Asia, involving hundreds of thousands of people (Halstead et al., 1969a , b ; Rao, 1966 ). CHIK virus infection produces an illness in humans that is characterized by fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, myalgia, rash and arthralgia. Because the clinical symptoms of CHIK infection often mimic those of dengue fever and because CHIK virus circulates in regions where dengue virus is endemic, it has been postulated that many cases of dengue virus infection are misdiagnosed and that the incidence of CHIK virus infection is much higher than reported (Carey, 1971 ). 
In Africa, CHIK virus appears to be maintained in a sylvatic cycle involving wild primates and forest-dwelling Aedes spp. mosquitoes. Serological studies have repeatedly demonstrated the presence of antibodies in humans and wild primates throughout the moist forests and semi-arid savannas of Africa (Adesina & Odelola, 1991 ; Jupp & McIntosh, 1988 ; Rodhain et al., 1989 ; Salim & Porterfield, 1973 ; Karabatsos, 1975 ). To date, a vertebrate reservoir or sylvan transmission cycle has not been identified outside Africa, supporting the historical evidence (Carey, 1971 ) that CHIK virus originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into Asia, where it is now typically associated with Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Strains from Africa and Asia are reported to differ biologically (Jupp & McIntosh, 1988 ), indicating that distinct lineages may exist. 
In 1996, a closely related alphavirus, o’nyong-nyong (ONN) virus, caused a major epidemic in southern Uganda (Lanciotti et al., 1998 ). This was the first epidemic of ONN virus infection since 1959, when a large epidemic swept across East Africa involving over 2 million reported cases (Johnson, 1988 ). Unlike CHIK and all other alphaviruses, ONN virus is unique in its transmission patterns: the virus is not transmitted by culicine mosquitoes, but rather by anophelines, typically Anopheles funestus and An. gambiae. A vertebrate reservoir for ONN virus has not yet been identified. The transmission of ONN virus by two common vectors that inhabit much of tropical Africa and that live in close association with humans may be a factor in the rapid spread of the virus during epidemics. 
With the exception of information derived from a limited number of serosurveys, little is known about the relationships of CHIK and ONN viruses (Chanas et al., 1979 ; Karabatsos, 1975 ; Porterfield, 1961 ). ONN is considered to be a subtype of CHIK virus: serological tests reveal a one-way antigenic cross-reactivity between the two agents. Antibody to CHIK virus reacts almost equally with both CHIK and ONN viral antigens while ONN virus antibodies react weakly against CHIK virus antigen (Blackburn et al., 1995 ; Chanas et al., 1979 ; Lee et al., 1997 ; Karabatsos, 1985 ). It was once postulated that mutations in CHIK virus led to the emergence of ONN virus and its ability to be transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes (Johnson, 1988 ). However, genetic studies by Lanciotti et al. (1998) as well as the phylogenetic analyses presented here clearly demonstrate that ONN and CHIK viruses are genetically distinct. The phylogenetic and serological studies presented here were designed to help elucidate the evolutionary relationships of these viruses and to aid in understanding their epidemic and maintenance transmission patterns. 

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#e1e1e1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width="5%" bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%">Methods </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Virus preparation.
The CHIK and ONN virus strains used in this study are described in Table 1. Viruses were diluted and grown on either BHK-21 or Vero 76 cells at an m.o.i. less than 1. After approximately 75% of the cells exhibited cytopathic effects, the virus present in the supernatant was concentrated by polyethylene glycol precipitation (Killington et al., 1996 ). The virus pellet was resuspended in 150 µl TEN buffer and 2 ml Trizol LS (Gibco-BRL) was added in preparation for RNA extraction according to the manufacturer’s protocol. 


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</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Table 1. Viruses used in phylogenetic analyses

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RNA extraction and RT–PCR.
RNA was extracted from the virus/Trizol suspension according to manufacturer’s protocols as described previously (Cilnis et al., 1996 ). cDNA was synthesized from the RNA using a poly(T) oligonucleotide primer (either T19V or T25V-Mlu; 5' TTACGAATTCACGCGT25V 3'). PCR amplification was performed on the first strand cDNA using the poly(T) primer and a forward primer designed to anneal to genome positions 10344 to 10360 (5' TACCCNTTYATGTGGGG 3') of ONN strain SG650, covering the carboxy-terminal portion of the E2 envelope glycoprotein gene. The following parameters were used: 30 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s, primer annealing at 50 °C for 30 s, and extension at 72 °C for 3 min. A 10 min final extension was used to ensure complete product synthesis. 
Sequencing/phylogenetic analyses.
PCR products ranging from 1·2 to 1·7 kb were isolated from 1% agarose gels. The cleaned DNA fragments were cloned into the pCR2.1 TA cloning vector (Invitrogen) and white bacterial colonies screened for plasmids containing inserts of the correct size. Selected clones were sequenced using the plasmid-specific T7 promoter and m13 reverse primers combined with internal, CHIK virus-specific primers (C3205, 5' GCRACAAACCCSGTAAG 3'; C3152, 5' ACTGGCTRAAAGAACGAGG 3'). Sequencing was performed using an Applied Biosystems Prism 377 sequencer and automated DNA sequencing kit. The deduced amino acid sequences were aligned by using the PILEUP program in the Wisconsin Package (Genetics Computer Group) with default parameters, and the nucleotide sequences were aligned manually based on codon homology. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony, neighbour joining and maximum likelihood programs implemented in the PAUP 4.0 software (Swofford, 1998 ). Distance analyses used the Kimura 2-parameter formula to correct for multiple substitutions of the same nucleotides. Unordered and ordered characters (transition/transversion ratio of 4:1; based on previous alphavirus estimates) were used in the parsimony analysis. Alphaviruses in the Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Barmah Forest and eastern equine encephalitis antigenic complexes were used as an outgroup. Bootstrap analysis (Felsenstein, 1985 ) was performed with 1000 replicates to determine confidence values on the clades within trees. 
Estimation of divergence times.
An average divergence rate for CHIK and ONN virus lineages was estimated by identification of sister-sequence pairs that were robust (bootstrap values >>90%), closely related and isolated at least 7 years apart in the same geographical region. The number of differences in synonymous changes depicted in branch lengths separating each sister sequence from the predicted common ancestor’s sequence was divided by the number of years between isolations to yield rates expressed as changes per nucleotide per year, and several estimates were compared to provide an estimated mean and standard deviation. Synonymous nucleotide divergence estimates for pair-wise sequence comparisons were generated using the formula of Li et al. (1985) to correct for multiple substitutions of the same nucleotides. 
Production of immune sera.
Syrian golden hamsters and BALB/C mice were used to generate immune sera to three strains of CHIK virus (37997, Ross and 1455/75) and one strain of ONN virus (Igbo Ora, IbH12628). Animals received a single injection of virus (~105 p.f.u./ml), either intraperitoneally (i.p.) alone or subcutaneously with a mixture of virus and an Ae. aegypti mosquito salivary gland suspension to enhance the infection. Approximately 4 weeks post-inoculation, blood was obtained from the rodents from the retroorbital sinus and tested for antibody to CHIK virus by an immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA) or by neutralization test (NT). Mice that were positive for CHIK virus antibody by IFA were injected i.p. with sarcoma 180 cells to produce hyperimmune ascitic fluid. Abdominal fluid was removed between 1 and 2 weeks after injection of the sarcoma cells and was used in IFA and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) to determine homologous titres. 
Titration of neutralizing antibody.
Three of the four viruses (37997, Ross and 1455/75) generated a detectable homologous antibody response as determined by IFA (in mice) or NT (in hamsters). Only two of these, 37997 and Ross, had IFA titres sufficient to perform additional serological analyses. These two viruses were used in 80% PRNTs to determine both the homologous and heterologous neutralizing antibody titres. 

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#e1e1e1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width="5%" bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%">Results </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Phylogenetic analysis
Cloned PCR products ranging from approximately 1200 to 1700 nucleotides of the E1 envelope glycoprotein gene and the entire 3' noncoding region (NCR) were sequenced and aligned using the PILEUP program in the GCG software package. Because alignment of the 3'NCR was poor, only the E1 coding nucleotides were used in the phylogenetic analyses. Both distance matrix programs and maximum parsimony generated trees with the same basic topology, differing only in the arrangement of the CHIK virus isolates from the Asian clade. 
Initial parsimony analyses revealed that several isolates, previously designated as CHIK virus, were genetically quite distinct from the prototype strain and from all other isolates examined. Inclusion of representative members of the Semliki Forest, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Barmah Forest and eastern equine encephalitis virus antigenic complexes showed that these viruses were actually ONN (strain IPD A234), Semliki Forest (DAK ArB16878) and Sindbis-like (ArMg812 and B448) viruses. Additionally, CHIK virus strains 3412/78 and C-0392/95 were isolated from patients in Thailand suspected of having dengue virus infection, reinforcing the uncertainties of viral diagnosis based upon clinical presentation. 
All of the CHIK and ONN virus isolates examined formed a monophyletic group within the Semliki Forest virus antigenic complex (Fig. 1), supported by a 100% bootstrap value. The ONN virus isolates formed a robust, distinct clade (100% bootstrap support) apart from all isolates of CHIK virus. ONN and CHIK virus sequences were approximately 28% and 13% divergent at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, underscoring the distinct nature of the two virus groups. Igbo Ora virus (strain IbH12628) grouped closely with the other strains of ONN, supporting previous reports that this is indeed an antigenic variant of ONN virus (Lanciotti et al., 1998 ). 


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</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 1. Phylogenetic analysis of CHIK and ONN viruses generated by performing a PAUP analysis on the 1050 bp partial E1 gene sequence. To correct branch lengths for multiple substitutions, the Neighbor distance program was used to draw the tree utilizing the topology of the PAUP phylogram. Numbers indicate bootstrap values for the groups to the right. Letter A indicates the hypothetical ancestor used to estimate the time of divergence of Asian CHIK isolates from the African progenitor. The bar indicates horizontal distance corresponding to 5% nucleotide sequence divergence.

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All phylogenetic methods divided the CHIK virus isolates into three distinct genotypes, based primarily on geographical origins. One CHIK virus clade consisted of the isolates from Senegal and Nigeria, forming the West Africa genotype (Fig. 1). These were quite distinct from the remaining CHIK virus isolates having only 78 to 85% nucleotide sequence identity over the fragment analysed. The remaining CHIK virus isolates formed two clades: one contained strains from central and eastern Africa, while the other contained solely Asian isolates. The paraphyletic grouping of the African CHIK viruses supports the historical evidence that the virus was introduced into Asia from Africa. 
Estimated divergence times
An attempt was made to estimate the average rate of evolution of the CHIK and ONN viruses by comparison of sequences of sister taxa from the same geographical areas. Analysis of individual lineages was not possible because too few strains were available. Sister pairs were chosen that had bootstrap values >>90% and were isolated at least 7 years apart. Using these sequences, an estimated rate of evolution was determined to be 6x10-4 substitutions per nucleotide per year with a standard deviation of 4x10-4. The same estimate was obtained when pair-wise comparisons included distance corrections using the Kimura two-parameter formula or maximum likelihood (see below). The synonymous rate was 5x10-4 (standard deviation 3x10-4) and the nonsynonymous rate was 6x10-5 (standard deviation 5x10-5). Although these estimates were based on only six sister-pair sequences and therefore had a high degree of error, they are similar to those previously determined for neotropical alphaviruses (Weaver et al., 1993 , 1997 ; Powers et al., 1997 ). Using the synonymous rate and the Ks values computed for CHIK strain comparisons (ranging from 0·12 to 0·25 with standard deviations of 0·03), the Asian genotype evolved from a hypothetical African ancestor (node A, Fig. 1) an estimated 50 to 430 (±1 standard deviation) years ago. Ks values for strains from the West African vs East African/Asian genotypes ranged from 0·75 to 0·86 with standard deviations of 0·10 to 0·12. Using these values, the ancestor of all of the CHIK virus strains is estimated to have emerged between 150 and 1350 years ago. Although the divergence time of ONN virus from CHIK virus could not be estimated reliably due to excessive variance in the Ks values resulting from near saturation of synonymous changes, divergence of CHIK and ONN viruses probably occurred at least thousands of years ago. 
A potential flaw in these time estimates is that substitution rates may vary across nucleotide sites, including synonymous sites, as has been reported for human immunodeficiency virus (Leitner et al., 1997 ). Unequal substitution rates across sites could result in an underestimation of true sequence divergence because the sites undergoing more change may accumulate more sequential mutations than are estimated by traditional formulas that assume equal rates. Therefore, we estimated the gamma distribution shape parameter for unequal rates using maximum likelihood analysis applied to all equally parsimonious tree topologies as well as the topology generated by neighbour joining. The gamma distribution shape parameter estimate was 0·42, and the transition/transversion ratio estimate was 4·3, similar to previous alphavirus estimates using substitution data from parsimony analyses (Cilnis et al., 1996 ; Weaver et al., 1994 , 1997 ). We used these values to generate trees with maximum likelihood branch lengths applied to tree topologies generated using maximum parsimony and neighbour joining methods. Using this approach, similar divergence time estimates were obtained, with the Asian CHIK virus genotype emerging between 50 and 310 years ago, and the West and East African genotypes diverging 100 to 840 years ago. 
Antigenic analysis
To determine the antigenic relatedness of viruses in the CHIK and ONN virus clades, one virus from each CHIK and ONN genotype was selected and used to generate antibodies in hamsters and mice (Table 2). Four weeks after a single injection of virus, animals were bled, and their sera tested for antibodies by IFA. The three CHIK viruses all produced specific antibodies while the ONN virus-infected mice and hamsters produced no detectable antibody response. The homologous IFA titre of CHIK virus strain 1455/75 was too low to be useful in neutralization assays; however, strains 37997 and Ross produced adequate antibody titres and were tested by 80% PRNT (Table 3). Results indicated that these viruses have a greater than 4-fold difference in one direction suggesting that they are distinct enough to be classified as antigenic subtypes (Calisher & Karabatsos, 1988 ; Calisher et al., 1980 ). While no antibody against ONN virus was generated here, eliminating the possibility of performing two-way cross neutralization tests between CHIK and ONN viruses, it would be reasonable to assume that because distinct genotypes of CHIK virus are sufficiently different antigenically to be considered subtypes, the ONN virus lineage would be more likely to be considered a distinct group of viruses within this antigenic complex. 


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</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Table 2. Initial serological analysis of CHIK/ONN viruses

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</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Table 3. Serological analysis of CHIK viruses (80% PRNT titres)

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#e1e1e1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width="5%" bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%">Discussion </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

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Results of our analyses support the hypothesis and historical accounts that CHIK virus probably originated in tropical Africa and subsequently was imported into southern Asia. In Africa, evidence that the virus circulates continually in sylvatic cycles has been documented for decades. The virus has been isolated from sylvatic mosquito species in several countries including Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic and South Africa (Diallo et al., 1999 ; Jupp & McIntosh, 1990 ; McCarthy et al., 1996 ). The mosquito species involved vary geographically and with ecological conditions. In Senegal, for example, Ae. furcifer, Ae. taylori, Ae. luteocephalus, Ae. africanus and Ae. neoafricanus are the species determined to be of major importance in maintaining CHIK virus transmission cycles. Interestingly, several of these are the same mosquito species involved in maintaining yellow fever virus, perhaps suggesting that outbreaks of CHIK virus infection could be concomitant with sylvan yellow fever (Traore-Lamizana et al., 1996 ). In addition, it has been reported that different populations of Ae. aegypti in Senegal have distinct susceptibilities to CHIK virus (Diallo et al., 1999 ), suggesting vector strain specificity for CHIK viruses. Further characterization of the mosquito vectors present in the endemic areas and their vector competence for CHIK viruses could provide valuable information regarding the potential for re-emergence of the viruses in human populations. 
In contrast to the numerous species involved in maintenance of CHIK virus infection in Africa, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the only vector species known to transmit CHIK virus in Asia. These are urban and peridomestic, anthropophilic mosquitoes that maintain close associations with humans. It is therefore not surprising that outbreaks of CHIK virus infection are noted more frequently in Asia than in Africa. Several studies have demonstrated the varying susceptibility of different Asian mosquito strains for CHIK viruses (Banerjee et al., 1988 ; Mourya & Banerjee, 1987 ; Mourya et al., 1987 ; Tesh et al., 1976 ). Because CHIK and dengue viruses are transmitted by the same mosquito species in Asia and because the clinical symptoms of the two viral diseases are similar, the two diseases are difficult to differentiate. Furthermore, there have been documented cases of simultaneous coinfection with CHIK and dengue viruses (Halstead, 1966 ; Myers & Carey, 1967 ), further complicating the characterization of CHIK virus maintenance, evolution and emergence in Asia. 
Another question concerning the transmission of CHIK virus in Asia relates to the high degree of genetic similarity among Asian genotype viruses. Although our sampling of the Asian virus was limited, sequences from viruses spanning a wide geographical range and isolated over a period of almost 35 years showed less than 3% nucleotide sequence divergence (Fig. 1). This genetic conservation in Asia is intriguing for a virus that is known to be maintained only between humans and peridomestic mosquitoes. A similar, high degree of sequence conservation is observed within several other groups of alphaviruses: the North American eastern equine encephalitis viruses (Weaver et al., 1994 ; Brault et al., 1999 ), Highlands J virus from North America (Cilnis et al., 1996 ), western equine encephalitis viruses (Weaver et al., 1997 ) and the Sindbis-like viruses distributed throughout Australia (Sammels et al., 1999 ). As an example, North American eastern equine encephalitis viruses are maintained by an avian reservoir host; therefore, the increased movement of the virus due to migration of the birds may effectively increase the virus population size and decrease founder effects and genetic drift. This may explain their sequence conservation (Weaver, 1995 ; Weaver et al., 1992 ; Brault et al., 1999 ). It is unknown whether such an avian transmission cycle exists for CHIK viruses in Asia. Migratory patterns of both passerines and shorebirds do encompass much of Southeast Asia ranging from the Yellow Sea and South China Sea across the Philippines and Indonesia to Australia. Additionally, migration routes from India across the Indian Ocean to East Africa have been documented (Williams & Williams, 1990 ). Serological testing of passerines and shorebirds in Southeast Asia could reveal if this is a plausible means of virus dispersal. Alternatively, dispersal of the virus by travel of humans could account for the presence of virtually identical viruses in areas as distant as Indonesia and the Philippines to Barsi in central India, as well as the introduction of the virus into Asia from Africa. 
The phylogenetic results presented here clearly demonstrate that ONN virus did not emerge via a recent mutation of CHIK virus as was once postulated (Johnson, 1988 ). This hypothesis was based on serological evidence indicating that the viruses could only be distinguished by two-way specific antigenic tests (i.e. neutralization assay) or the use of monoclonal antibodies (Karabatsos, 1975 ; Porterfield, 1961 ). Antiserum raised against CHIK virus reacted with ONN virus but the reciprocal was not true, leading to the hypothesis that mutations in CHIK virus generated altered structural configurations in ONN virus affecting seroassay results (Johnson, 1988 ; Williams & Woodall, 1961 ; Williams et al., 1962 ). It was suggested that these same mutations were responsible for the novel ability of ONN virus to replicate in and be transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes. However, if ONN virus undergoes periodic emergence from CHIK virus progenitors, ONN virus isolates from the outbreak in Uganda in 1996 would be predicted to group phylogenetically with CHIK virus isolates rather than with the other strains of ONN virus as seen in our analysis (Fig. 1). For example, repeated emergence from a common progenitor has been found with epidemic/epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses, which emerge periodically from enzootic viruses and occupy clades nested within the enzootic ID lineage (Kinney et al., 1992 ; Powers et al., 1997 ; Weaver et al., 1996 ). 
In addition to the antigenic and sequence differences between CHIK and ONN viruses, differences in several other biological patterns exist. Studies examining the relative ability of various strains of CHIK and ONN to replicate in different cell types have shown clear distinctions between these two viruses. CHIK viruses can replicate in both Ae. aegypti cell lines and numerous Aedes spp. mosquitoes (Chanas et al., 1979 ; Jupp & McIntosh, 1988 ; Mourya et al., 1987 ) while ONN does not appear to replicate in Ae. aegypti cells (Chanas et al., 1979 ). Interestingly, both CHIK and ONN viruses can replicate in An. gambiae cells; however, only ONN replicates in and is believed to be transmitted primarily by An. gambiae or An. funestus mosquitoes under natural conditions (Corbet et al., 1961 ; Williams et al., 1965 ). Differences between the plaque sizes of CHIK and ONN viruses on mammalian cells have also been described (Chanas et al., 1979 ; Tesh et al., 1976 ); however, among CHIK and ONN viruses, plaque size may be strain specific (Chanas et al., 1979 ). 
A putative explanation for the varying biological properties among CHIK and ONN viruses is differences in the 3'NCR. All alphaviruses sequenced have repeat sequence elements in the 3'NCR that vary in length and number, often according to serogroup (Pfeffer et al., 1998 ; reviewed in Strauss & Strauss, 1994). Within some virus groups (e.g. the Sindbis-like viruses) very little sequence heterogeneity is detected in the 3'NCR (Shirako et al., 1991 ) while other alphaviruses including Ross River virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis and Semliki Forest complex viruses show high degrees of 3'NCR variation in both length and nucleotide composition (Faragher & Dalgarno, 1986 ; Pfeffer et al., 1998 ). Kuhn et al. (1991) have shown that changes in the repeat sequence elements can affect virus replication in different cell types, suggesting that this region may be important in binding cellular proteins utilized during virus replication. Our sequences from 22 strains of CHIK and ONN viruses from a diverse geographical and temporal range demonstrated such a high degree of variability in the 3'NCR that nucleotide sequence alignments in this area were unreliable. This information, combined with the knowledge that the replicative ability of a given CHIK or ONN viral strain varies tremendously with different strains of mosquitoes, may support Kuhn’s hypothesis.

Re-emergence of chikungunya and o’nyong-nyong viruses: evidence for distinct geographic…

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/81/2/471

Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae . Serologically, it is most closely related to onyong-nyong (ONN) virus

It would be nice if the genetic data from the chik in La Reunion was released so that a comparison could be made to the chik in India.

DB · March 14, 2006, 10:25 AM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

Roughly 100,000 cases in a month in both La Reunion and India starting in January.

The big difference is that La Reunion has around 775,000 people and India has over 1 billion.

They were estimating that 80% of La Reunion could get infected, right now it is 30%.

If the same numbers hold true for India, we are looking at 800 million people who could become infected.

Considering that the virus has already decimated La Reunion, India would be the last place I would be heading right now, second would Europe considering that France, Germany and Switerzerland all have cases of Chikungunya.

Based on the all the data we can really call this Pandemic Chikungunya.

DB · March 14, 2006, 12:09 PM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

Maybe someone should let WHO (World Health Organization) know that we have a pandemic on our hands.

**Cazandra** · March 15, 2006, 12:09 AM

Re: Chikungunya: India has over 100,000 cases

Village in the grip of viral fever

Tuesday March 14 2006 12:14 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20060314015242&Page=A&Title=So uthern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0

RAJAHMUNDRY: As many as 50 persons suffering from chikungunya, a viral fever, in Torredu village, were admitted to hospital on Sunday. The disease is also rampant in Peddapuram and Gandepalli mandals and in Annapurnammapeta and Cemetrypeta in the city.

The fever is common in China, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries. This is the first time that the symptoms of the fever were found in the district. The viral fever is caused due to a bite by a mosquito Aedes Egyptis.

The victims suffer severe joint pain, high fever and rashes. Though the symptoms are similar to dengue fever, chikungunya is not fatal.

On receiving information about the spread of the disease, four medical teams comprising additional District Medical and Health Officer K Vijaya Kumar, district malaria officer Y Mallikarjuna Rao and malaria sub-unit officer K Jagapati Rao visited Torredu village on Monday morning.

The doctors conducted door-to-door visits in the village, examined the condition of the patients and collected blood samples from them.

Speaking to this website?s newspaper, N Venkata Rao (53) and B Nagamani (50), both suffering from the fever for the past one week said that there were no medical facilities in the village and no official had visited the area till Sunday.

Vijay Kumar said the blood samples of the patients would be sent for tests at National Virology Institute (NVI), Pune.