Chikungunya Spreads in Southern Provinces of Cambodia

AKP Phnom Penh, May 18, 2012 –The Chikungunya, an insect-borne virus that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying by Aedes mosquitoes, has been affecting local people in Traing district of Takeo, a southern province of Cambodia, local media reported.

Dr. Char Meng Chour, Director of the Cambodian National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control said the Chikungunya, or CHIKV, was first found in Cambodia in 1961 and since then there was no report of this disease until last year.

In 2011, 21 people living in Preah Vihear, Battambang, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang provinces, have been infected, he said, adding that after that two more cases have been reported in Kandal and Kampong Speu provinces, he said.

Between March and April this year, 305 cases were found in Korng Pisey and Baset districts of Kampong Speu southern province and recently many people have been reported infected by the virus in Traing district of Takeo province, but all of them have been recovered, he underlined.

Dr. Char Meng Chour called on the local people to destroy the mosquitoes’ habitats, to use Abate and sleep in mosquito nets.

By KHAN Sophirom