Epidemic kills 50 in Reunion

2006-02-17 14:25

Saint Denis de la Reunion - The deaths of 52 people in the French overseas territory of Reunion have been linked to an epidemic of an incurable crippling mosquito-borne disease called Chikungunya, the French National Health Agency (INVS) said on Friday at the capital of Saint Denis de la Reunion.

According to Philippe Quenel, an epidemiologist at the INVS, more than 110 000 people have been affected by the disease since the epidemic broke out on the Indian Ocean island in March 2005, 22 000 of them over the past week.

"Fifty-two certificates of death citing chikungunya have been submitted," Quenel added.

The French government has sent several hundred soldiers to the island to assist in the eradication of the mosquitoes that spread the illness, which has crippled tourism on Reunion.

Chikungunya is Swahili for "that which bends up" and refers to the stooped posture of those afflicted by the crippling and extremely painful disease, for which there is no known vaccine or cure.

The illness is characterised by high fever and severe rashes. While it is usually non-fatal in itself and most people eventually recover, it can provide opportunities for other diseases to set in. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA