Dengue-like fever downs 83 in Albay village

LEGAZPI CITY—A mosquito-borne disease similar to dengue fever but milder in form has struck an island-village in Rapu-Rapu town in Albay, afflicting 83 people, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said on Monday.

Salceda directed Dr. Luis Mendoza, provincial health officer, to check on the sudden rise of the chikungunya fever over the last three weeks in Barangay San Ramon on Batan Island. Municipal health employees have reported 70 cases in mid-September and 83 cases by the end of the month.

Symptoms of the disease include on-off fever, rashes and muscle and body pains.

Batan does not have any full-time municipal doctor. It is about three hours by boat from this city and one of the three islands of Rapu-Rapu town.

Salceda said an epidemiology surveillance team would start gathering specimens from patients for laboratory tests at the Department of Health regional office in this city. Mar S. Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon