After dengue, Kidapawan also on alert for chikungunya

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines  --- Four local residents have tested positive for  mosquito-borne chikungunya disease, the health department in Region 12 announced Thursday.

The findings were based on laboratory examination of blood samples from four of the seven patients  who showed signs of chikungunya infection.

Health officials here declined to reveal the identities of the patients, now being observed by physicians.

Two other patients suspected of having  contracted chikungunya virus are still being observed by the city government

The office of the Department of Health in Region 12 said the chikungunya viral disease is just like the dengue fever, from which patients suffer recurring high fever, joint and muscular pains.

The four chikungunya cases here were confirmed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicines in Metro Manila, according to the information office of the city government.

The city government of Kidapawan has launched a massive information campaign on how to prevent the spread of the chikungunya and dengue infections in all of the barangays here.

Local health authorities have  recorded a rise in dengue cases here in recent weeks.

Jenny Ventura, information officer of DOH-12, said epidemiologists are now monitoring the local communities to determine the prevalence of dengue and chikungunya infections here and surrounding North Cotabato towns.