Chikungunya spreads rapidly in Chattogram, 7 in 10 infected as authorities remain silent  

Chattogram is witnessing a sharp rise in chikungunya infections following a recent wave of dengue cases, unofficial data suggests that nearly 7 out of every 10 individuals presenting with fever symptoms are testing positive for the mosquito-borne viral fever. 

Test data from three private facilities over the past week reveal a 71% chikungunya positivity rate. Epic Healthcare confirmed 153 cases out of 185, Evercare reported 65 cases out of 132, and Parkview Hospital reported 42 infections from 53 tests.

Chikungunya continues to remain outside the scope of formal disease surveillance and reporting. Unlike dengue and COVID-19, which are tracked in routine government health updates, chikungunya remains overlooked.

Neither the national health authorities nor the local administration have introduced any targeted interventions to address the outbreak. 

This lack of institutional response has sparked concern among residents, particularly as multiple members of the same household are often falling ill simultaneously.

Medical professionals warn that while chikungunya rarely results in death, it often causes debilitating post-viral complications. Patients may endure prolonged joint pain, fatigue, and skin rashes for weeks or even months. This year, chikungunya cases are reportedly outpacing those of dengue and COVID-19.

"Several viruses are circulating this season with overlapping symptoms, but a majority of patients are turning out to be chikungunya cases," said Dr Abul Faisal Md Nuruddin Chowdhury, medicine specialist at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. 

"At present, nearly 80% of the fever patients we are receiving exhibit symptoms consistent with chikungunya," said Dr HM Hamidullah Mehedi, medicine specialist at Chattogram General Hospital.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Md Jahangir Alam acknowledged the uptick in mosquito-borne illnesses. "We are conducting awareness campaigns from urban areas to rural communities," he said. "But individual responsibility and vigilance remain essential."