Chikungunya Attack Citizens in Leuwiliang

“In total there are 89 people in Gunung Tangkil Barat subvillage in Cibeber I village infected with chikungunya. One patient, Asep, 25 years old, was referred to Leuwiliang Regional Hospital for intensive care,” said Itje, midwife at the Village Health Post in Cibeber I village, yesterday. Itje said the chikungunya outbreak rampaging through Cibeber village is of the A2 category.

All patients have been given medications to relief pain, fever, nausea, and allergy, vitamin B complex, and antibiotics. “From 135 people, only 89 had red spots on their body and joint pain.

To prevent further spread, the health center with assistance from the subdistrict and village office will do fogging tomorrow (7/12),” she said. Four days after fogging, the health center will recheck the village people. “We are now in an emergency situation. Starting today the health center is opening a health service post in the place where this outbreak is spreading out from, Gunung Tangkil Barat subvillage, just in case,” she said. 

Head of the Disease Eradication, Prevention, and Environmental Health Division of the Health Service Office of Bogor district, Eulis Wulantari, said they have evacuated all infected patients to Leuwiliang Regional Hospital. “We have checked for mosquito larvae and tomorrow (today) we will conduct fogging,” she said.

Chief of Cibeber I village, Tugiyo, said he has heard of villagers suffering from chikungunya since last Sunday (4/12). At that time, people have checked themselves at Cibeber I village health post. “But because many people are affected by this disease, the village office decided to report the incident to the subdistrict office and Community Health Center,” he said. 

Tugiyo also said the village administration is encouraging everybody to work together in applying abate powder to puddles throughout all the houses in the village. A Breed Tilapia Fish Movement as predators of mosquito larvae will also be initiated. “Other measures include requesting aid from the district government of Bogor, including fogging,” he said.

This outbreak has caused panic in Leuwiliang subdistrict officials. “Since we received the information, we have visited the location and prepared for the worse, because this disease is quite debilitating,” said Leuwiliang Chief Police, Police Commisioner Djumangin, yesterday.

Health expert from Padjajaran University in Bandung, dr. Sutrisno Hadiwijaya said symptoms of chikungunya are flu-like high fever with shivering, followed by nausea and vomiting, headache and stomach ache. Within 4 days there will be pain and aching of the leg bone. Afterwards, red spots will emerge throughout the patient’s body.

Then, the patient will suffer dysfunction of the arms and legs. “But this dysfunction won’t last long. The patient will soon heal within a few days. Even though chikungunya is similar to dengue fever, it does not cause severe hemorrhaging, shock, or death,” he said.

The incubation period of chikungunya, he continued, is 2 to 4 days. Manifestation of the disease lasts between 3 to 10 days. The disease is self-limiting, meaning that it will die out on its own. Unfortunately the pain and aching could still be felt for weeks to months to come.

In practice, there is no vaccine or special medication for chikungunya. This disease could only be prevented. “Prevention is by stopping mosquito breeding through 3 M (close waterways, dry water bodies, and bury old junk) or by applying abate powder to water reservoirs, which is similar to Dengue fever preventive measures,” he said. (yus)

Source : Radar Bogor