In one year, cases of chikungunya increase by 142% in SP

The state of São Paulo recorded a 142.6% increase in chikungunya cases over a period of one year. From January 2023 until December 1st, 2,167 confirmed cases of the disease have been recorded, compared to 893 in the same period in 2022.

In 2023, 12 people died from the disease. Last year, there were no deaths recorded.

Transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, chikungunya causes intense joint pain, capable of causing disability for a prolonged period. In several situations, infected patients describe discomfort throughout the body and may develop chronic complications that resemble rheumatic diseases.

In addition to joint pain, patients infected with chikungunya may experience fever, headaches, red spots on the body and fatigue.

The State Department of Health of São Paulo stated in a statement that it permanently carries out actions to combat the mosquito that transmits Chikungunya, supporting municipalities, which are responsible for field work to prevent the disease. “Chikungunya is a seasonal disease in which epidemic and inter-epidemic cycles can occur from one year to the next”, he adds.

Between the end of October and the beginning of December, the ministry promoted the State Week of Social Mobilization against Aedes aegypti to alert the population to seek medical assistance immediately after the appearance of symptoms such as fever, body aches or red spots to prevent possible complications. .

The main preventive measure against the disease is to eliminate possible breeding sites for the transmitting mosquito. The Department of Health advises that the population maintain environments free from water accumulation, use insecticides in strategic locations to reduce the population of adult mosquitoes and regularly monitor areas prone to mosquito proliferation.