Disease

Chikungunya and dengue in Delhi

While the mosquito borne virus, Zika, has captured the attention of most of the world as it spreads through the Americas and Southeast Asia, India is grappling with a different mosquito borne virus transmitted by the same mosquito vector, Aedes spp.

In India’s capital city, Delhi, with a population in the metro area of well over 20 million people, a virus first detected in Africa 65 years ago has grabbed the attention and fears of this group of people – chikungunya.

The city has reported in excess of 1,700 chikungunya cases, including 15 deaths in recent weeks (although one report says the Delhi government is denying the fatalities.

This does not include the 1,100 dengue fever cases and 18 deaths also being reported in the city, prompting the government to appeal to the public not to panic.

And this is just in Delhi. Across the country, these two virus are taking their toll in a number of regions.

Mumps: Arkansas and New York update

Through Aug. 13, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,786 mumps cases, the most reported in the US since 2010. Two states are being hit particularly hard by the contagious viral disease of recent–Arkansas and New York.

Zika Virus - France

While France has yet to report a Zika virus local transmission, the European country has reported almost 1,000 travel associated, or imported cases through Sep. 15 this year, according to Sante Publique France.

From Jan. to Sep. 15, 978 imported Zika virus cases have been reported. This includes 30 pregnant women and 5 cases of neurological complications.

In addition, France has seen 10 cases of confirmed sexually transmitted Zika virus this year.