Commentary: Outbreak of Chikungunya in Pakistan

Mallhi, Tauqeer Hussain; Khan, Yusra Habib; Khan, Amer Hayat; Tanveer, Nida; Khan, Omaid Hayat; Aftab, Raja Ahsan

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00261

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In summer 2017, Pakistan experienced its first ever CHIK outbreak in Karachi, a metropolis of approximately 25 million inhabitants. This outbreak resulted in 30,000 suspected cases where only 803 were reported to World Health Organization (WHO) ( Mallhi et al, 2017a ). Shi et al (2017) carried out phylogenetic analysis of CHIKV isolated from the 10 patients with confirmed diagnosis and found that the epidemic of genotypes of CHIKV strains were tightly associated with spatial and temporal distributions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The virus can establish itself in any tropical or temperate region harboring the Aedes mosquitoes. Thus, the key measures for preventing CHIK epidemics include entomologic surveillance, peridomestic mosquito control, public education, commitment of resources for research, improvements in healthcare infrastructure, detection of imported cases and early recognition of local transmission, followed by efficient vector control ( Mallhi et al, 2017a ; Mallhi et al, 2017b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Awareness and knowledge of Chikungunya infection following its outbreak in Pakistan among health care students and professionals: a nationwide survey

Mallhi

Khan

Tanveer

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) declares Chikungunya (CHIK) infection to be endemic in South Asia. Despite its first outbreak in Pakistan, no documented evidence exists which reveals the knowledge or awareness of healthcare students and workers (HCSW) regarding CHIK, its spread, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Since CHIK is an emergent infection in Pakistan, poor disease knowledge may result in a significant delay in diagnosis and treatment. The current study was aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of CHIK among HCSW.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among HCSW from teaching institutes and hospitals in seven provinces of Pakistan. We collected information on socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and their knowledge by using a 30-item questionnaire. The cumulative knowledge score (CKS) was calculated by correct answers with maximum score of 22. The relationship between demographics and knowledge score was evaluated by using appropriate statistical methods.ResultsThere were 563 respondents; mean age 25.2 ± 5.9 years with female preponderance (62.5%). Of these, 319 (56.7%) were aware of CHIK infection before administering the survey. The average knowledge score was 12.8 ± 4.1 (% knowledge score: 58.2%). Only 31% respondents had good disease knowledge while others had fair (36.4%) and poor (32.6%) knowledge. Out of five knowledge domains, domain III (vector, disease spread and transmission) and V (prevention and treatment) scored lowest among all i.e. percent score 44.5% and 54.1%, respectively. We found that socio-demographic characteristics had no influence on knowledge score of the study participants.ConclusionApproximately one-half of participants were not aware of CHIK infection and those who were aware had insufficient disease knowledge. Findings of the current study underscore the dire need of educational interventions not only for health care workers but also for students, irrespective to the discipline of study.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and knowledge of Chikungunya infection following its outbreak in Pakistan among health care students and professionals: a nationwide survey

Mallhi

Khan

Tanveer

et al. 2018

PeerJ

Self Cite

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“…After 2007, CHIKV outbreaks in SEA and SA regions were larger and longer that infected millions of people in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, and Philippines ( Supplementary Table 1 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021 ). In SA, seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Maldives) out of eight have reported the local outbreaks and epidemics of CHIKV during 2010 to 2020 ( Figures 1A–C , 2 ; Mallhi et al, 2017 ; Wahid et al, 2017 ; Haque et al, 2019 ; Wimalasiri-Yapa et al, 2019 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021 ).…”

Section: Molecular Epidemiology Phylogeny and Evolution Of Chikungunya Virus In South Asia And Rest Of The Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After 2005, the outbreaks in Africa significantly contributed in reemergence of CHIKV in South Asia. Reemergence of CHIKV occurred in India in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2019, in Bangladesh during 2009–2011, 2013–2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019, and in Pakistan during 2009, 2011, 2013–2016 ( Mallhi et al, 2017 ; Wahid et al, 2017 ; Haque et al, 2019 ; Wimalasiri-Yapa et al, 2019 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021 ).…”

Section: Molecular Epidemiology Phylogeny and Evolution Of Chikungunya Virus In South Asia And Rest Of The Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution and Reemergence of Chikungunya Virus in South Asia

et al. 2021

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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a vector (mosquito)-transmitted alphavirus (family Togaviridae). CHIKV can cause fever and febrile illness associated with severe arthralgia and rash. Genotypic and phylogenetic analysis are important to understand the spread of CHIKV during epidemics and the diversity of circulating strains for the prediction of effective control measures. Molecular epidemiologic analysis of CHIKV is necessary to understand the complex interaction of vectors, hosts and environment that influences the genotypic evolution of epidemic strains. In this study, different works published during 1950s to 2020 concerning CHIKV evolution, epidemiology, vectors, phylogeny, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Outbreaks of CHIKV have been reported from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Maldives in South Asia during 2007–2020. Three lineages- Asian, East/Central/South African (ECSA), and Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) are circulating in South Asia. Lineage, ECSA and IOL became predominant over Asian lineage in South Asian countries during 2011–2020 epidemics. Further, the mutant E1-A226V is circulating in abundance with Aedes albopictus in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. CHIKV is underestimated as clinical symptoms of CHIKV infection merges with the symptoms of dengue fever in South Asia. Failure to inhibit vector mediated transmission and predict epidemics of CHIKV increase the risk of larger global epidemics in future. To understand geographical spread of CHIKV, most of the studies focused on CHIKV outbreak, biology, pathogenesis, infection, transmission, and treatment. This updated study will reveal the collective epidemiology, evolution and phylogenies of CHIKV, supporting the necessity to investigate the circulating strains and vectors in South Asia.

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“…We refer transmission of infections in India which have implications for Pakistan [1]. As compared to Pakistan, the range and burden of infectious diseases are enormous in India including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) contagion in 2002-2003, Influenza A virus epidemic of 2006 (avian influenza), 2007 Equine influenza, Swine flu pandemic outbreaks in 2009 and 2014 [2]. Moreover, episodes of infectious diseases continue to rise in India, with a recent surge of chikungunya and dengue cases in 2016 [1].…”

Section: Contents Lists Available At Sciencedirectmentioning

confidence: 99%