Chikungunya virus: Underestimating its burden

Madam,chikungunya,a crippling disease caused by a virus belonging to the alpha virus genus of the togoviridae family has reared its head in pakistan. just as the year 2016 was nearing its end,the country observed a major outbreak of chikungunya afflicting reportedly about 30,000 people. the heath care officials may have been misconstruing the long term burden of the disease,conceiving it to be 'mild' and declaring the situation 'under control',however,29 cases of chikungunya have been reported in february alone casting doubt on these assurances. © 2017,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.