The 2005–2007 Chikungunya Epidemic in Réunion: Ambiguous Etiologies, Memories, and Meaning-Making

Abstract

From March 2005 to April 2007 the French overseas department and Indian Ocean island of Réunion was significantly affected by an epidemic of chikungunya. Chikungunya is a vector-spread disease (by the aedes albopictus mosquito) that leads to painful rheumatic symptoms. The disease infected approximately one third of the island's total population of 802,000 inhabitants (Rallu 2009 ). This article is a discussion of local etiological accounts of chikungunya. The primary topic raised by informants was whether chikungunya was a vector- or air-borne disease. Even though informants had access to substantial biomedical information concerning the disease and its transmission, some were convinced by it and others were not. In order to make meaning of the disease, the Réunionese drew on various types of medical knowledge from different health sectors simultaneously. To understand people's experiences with chikungunya, we must account for all of their etiological explanations.

Preparedness for Threat of Chikungunya in the Pacific

“…Cases were also reported in Singapore in 2008 ( 16 ) and Thailand in 2008–2009 ( 17 ). The outbreaks in the Indian Ocean resulted in high attack rates, for example, 63% of the population in Grande Comore and 35% in Reunion Island ( 3 , 14 , 18 ). …”

“…Chikungunya had not previously been reported in Reunion Island, but during March 2005–April 2007, a total of 266,000 people—about one third of the population—were infected with CHIKV, and ≈250 people died ( 7 , 18 ). This outbreak resulted in a tremendous burden on the health system, peaking with >47,000 estimated cases in 1 week ( 7 ).…”

Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alphavirus-Induced Arthritis

“…This is especially frequent in the case of MAYV infections, in which the limited diagnosis of cases makes the illness largely unknown [6, 8, 9]. Studies on CHIKV infection were also limited before the epidemics at the La Réunion Island, a French territory in the southwest Indian Ocean, where more than 200,000 habitants were infected between 2005 and 2007 [10, 11]. In this outbreak, more than 50% of CHIKV-infected adults presented a severe disease with persistent joint pain [12–14].…”

“…In this outbreak, more than 50% of CHIKV-infected adults presented a severe disease with persistent joint pain [12–14]. After this CHIKV epidemics, several other cases of CHIKV infection were described in many countries and systematic efforts on the investigation of the pathogenesis of CHIKV infection allowed a rapid increase in the knowledge regarding the disease [11, 15, 16]. In contrast, epidemics of ONNV infection, which promote a disease similar to that caused by CHIKV, have been described in Africa since 1959, although ONNV and the pathogenesis of its infection have remained unstudied so far [17, 18].…”

Oncolytic Alphaviruses in Cancer Immunotherapy

“…Similarly, SFV and SIN have been associated with several epidemics in Africa [7,8] and acute VEE infections have been responsible for the death of two individuals in the Amazon region of Peru [9]. Chikungunya virus (CHIK) has been determined responsible for recent outbreaks in the Republic of Congo [10], the island of Reunion [11] and the Bahia state in Brazil [12]. …”