Increased Mortality Rate Associated with Chikungunya Epidemic, Ahmedabad, India

Dileep Mavalankar,Karaikurichi V Ramani,Priya Shastri,Tathagata Bandyopadhyay,Jeram Parmar

doi:10.3201/eid1403.070720

Dileep Mavalankar, Karaikurichi V Ramani + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1403.070720

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Abstract

In 2005-2006, Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean reported approximately 266,000 cases of chikungunya; 254 were fatal (case-fatality rate 1/1,000). India reported 1.39 million cases of chikungunya fever in 2006 with no attributable deaths; Ahmedabad, India, reported 60,777 suspected chikungunya cases. To assess the effect of this epidemic, mortality rates in 2006 were compared with those in 2002-2005 for Ahmedabad (population 3.8 million). A total of 2,944 excess deaths occurred during the chikungunya epidemic (August-November 2006) when compared with the average number of deaths in the same months during the previous 4 years. These excess deaths may be attributable to this epidemic. However, a hidden or unexplained cause of death is also possible. Public health authorities should thoroughly investigate this increase in deaths associated with this epidemic and implement measures to prevent further epidemics of chikungunya.

Highlights

In 2005–2006, Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean reported ≈266,000 cases of chikungunya; 254 were fatal
A major epidemic of this disease was reported in 2005– 2006 in Réunion Island; ≈266,000 residents (34.3% of the population) of this Indian Ocean island were affected by chikungunya fever as of February 19, 2007
Collection of Death Data The registrar of births and deaths (RBD) of Ahmedabad, who is a subordinate officer to the medical officer of health, registers all births and deaths within the city limits under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act

Summary

Introduction

In 2005–2006, Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean reported ≈266,000 cases of chikungunya; 254 were fatal (case-fatality rate 1/1,000). A major epidemic of this disease was reported in 2005– 2006 in Réunion Island; ≈266,000 residents (34.3% of the population) of this Indian Ocean island were affected by chikungunya fever as of February 19, 2007. This epidemic spread to France through imported cases from Réunion Island (4). Studies have indicated that the recent outbreak in the Indian Ocean islands was initiated by a strain related to East African isolates, from which viral variants have evolved with a traceable history of microevolution This history could provide information for understanding the unusual magnitude and virulence of this chikungunya epidemic (8)

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