Welfare and Labor (VWA) confirmed that multiple people tested positive for chikungunya and that this has triggered concern for the public health.

The people who tested positive for chikungunya did not go abroad recently which means that the infections happened locally. The Central Labarotory of the Public Health Bureau (BOG) and the lab of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) confirmed that multiple people tested positive for chikungunya. Reports indicate that there are 8 confirmed cases of chikungunya. The Health Ministry explained that this is a clear indication that the chikungunya virus is actively circulating within Suriname. The BOG has already launched an epidemiological investigation and has also beefed up surveillance in areas where the virus was detected in order to keep it from spreading.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans through by mosquitoes infected with the chikungunya virus. The mosquitoes involved in transmission are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

The most common symptom is an abrupt onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Severe joint pain usually lasts a few days but can persist for months or even years. Serious complications are uncommon, but atypical severe cases can cause long-term symptoms and even death, especially in older people, pregnant women, people with a chronic disease and in children under one year old. There is no vaccine or antiviral drug treatment for chikungunya. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

The Health Ministry advises people who have a fever and joint pain to avoid using aspirin and ibuprofen and to use paracetamol instead. It is also essential to rest and to keep hydrated. If the symptoms worden, one must go to a doctor. The Health Ministry urges the nation to actively support the fight against the mosquito by eliminating the breeding grounds such as stagnant water in buckets, tires and flower pots. People should also wear clothes that cover most of their skin and use mosquito repellent. “These measures are not an option but a necessity,” said the Health Ministry.