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Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pham, PN; Williams, LT; Obot, U; Padilla, LA; Aung, M; Akinyemiju, TF; Carson, AP; Jolly, PE
Published in: Res Rep Trop Med
2017

Objective: Our study describes the 2014 Chikungunya outbreak in Western Jamaica in terms of geographic distribution and trend of the outbreak over time, and evaluates clinical symptoms of the disease based on pre-existing conditions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 609 clinically defined Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) fever cases that occurred in the four parishes of the Western Regional Health Authority of Jamaica from July 2014 to December 2014. Cases were not confirmed by laboratory tests but met clinical and epidemiological criteria of CHIKV fever. Results: Our results show a propagated spread of CHIKV fever during the outbreak period with the peak at the end of October. Main urban cities, such as Montego Bay and Lucea, were identified as places that had high numbers of cases. Fever and arthralgia were the two most common clinical symptoms in CHIKV patients. Although a majority (80%) of infants aged <2 years had up to four symptoms (80%), the percentage of infants with higher numbers of symptoms (9-10) was higher than in older age groups. However, back pain was found to occur significantly more in older patients. Those with arthritis as a pre-existing condition were more likely to experience headache, asthenia, back pain, and periarticular edema. Conclusion: These findings can help public health officials develop more effective programs to prevent the spread of CHIKV outbreaks by focusing on crowded urban cities. The findings indicate that those who are likely to develop a higher number of symptoms, such as young infants and people with pre-existing conditions, such as arthritis, should be more closely monitored to better manage the disease outcome.

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Published In

Res Rep Trop Med

DOI

ISSN

1179-7282

Publication Date

2017

Volume

8

Start / End Page

7 / 16

Related Subject Headings

  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1108 Medical Microbiology
 

Citation

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Pham, P. N., Williams, L. T., Obot, U., Padilla, L. A., Aung, M., Akinyemiju, T. F., … Jolly, P. E. (2017). Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014. Res Rep Trop Med, 8, 7–16. https://doi.org/10.2147/rrtm.s122032
Pham, P. N., L. T. Williams, U. Obot, L. A. Padilla, M. Aung, T. F. Akinyemiju, A. P. Carson, and P. E. Jolly. “Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014.” Res Rep Trop Med 8 (2017): 7–16. https://doi.org/10.2147/rrtm.s122032.
Pham PN, Williams LT, Obot U, Padilla LA, Aung M, Akinyemiju TF, et al. Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014. Res Rep Trop Med. 2017;8:7–16.
Pham, P. N., et al. “Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014.” Res Rep Trop Med, vol. 8, 2017, pp. 7–16. Manual, doi:10.2147/rrtm.s122032.
Pham PN, Williams LT, Obot U, Padilla LA, Aung M, Akinyemiju TF, Carson AP, Jolly PE. Epidemiology of Chikungunya fever outbreak in Western Jamaica during July-December 2014. Res Rep Trop Med. 2017;8:7–16.

Published In

Res Rep Trop Med

DOI

ISSN

1179-7282

Publication Date

2017

Volume

8

Start / End Page

7 / 16

Related Subject Headings

  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1108 Medical Microbiology