KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Fourteen people in Alor Star, Kedah, are suspected to have Chikungunya disease after they sought treatment for fever, skin rashes and joint pains.
In a statement to The Star, State Health Department Director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail stated that a health team was deployed to the area surrounding City Plaza located at Jalan Tengku Ibrahim in the city.
He also indicated that based on the symptoms presented by the patients, it was likely that they had the mosquito-borne Chikungunya disease, though other diseases have not been ruled out.
Samples have been sent to the National Public Health laboratory in Sungai Buluh for disease confirmation.
Most of the cases have originated from the same row of business shoplots and area near the plaza.
Most received outpatient treatment at private clinics around Alor Setar and are all reportedly in stable condition.
The Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat infection.
