In Zambo City, 4 residents fall ill of dengue-like disease

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The city health office has confirmed four cases of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease which bears symptoms similar to dengue fever’s.

Three of four residents stricken by the disease are women, according to a city health official.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, said theirs were the first confirmed cases of chikungunya in the city.

Agbulos said while chikungunya cases had been reported in the past, those reported in September were the first to be confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

He said the four patients are now out of danger but the cases had alarmed health authorities in the city.
Agbulos said like dengue, persons suffering from chikungunya experience severe body and joint pains.

“They also suffer from extreme weakness,” said Agbulos.

Aside from severe body pains and weakness, patients also suffer from headache and fever, said Agbulos.

“Basically, patients share symptoms with that of dengue victims, except for the absence of hemorrhages,” he said.

Medical journals said chikungunya was also transmitted by the same types of mosquito responsible for dengue, the Aedis egyptii and Aedis albopictus. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao/CDG

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