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Title : 6 confirmed cases of chikungunya fever in Singapore
By :
Date : 17 January 2008 2141 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/323243/1/.html

SINGAPORE: There are currently six confirmed cases of chikungunya fever – four of the patients have already been discharged, while two are still in hospital.

38-year-old G Vidwasekar, an Indian national from Tamil Nadu, had to be admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Communicable Disease Centre on Wednesday.

Just a day earlier, he had joined the Indian Harvest Festival celebrations, known as Pongal.

As he was returning to his hostel in Clive Street – the same living quarters as the first chikungunya victim – he experienced symptoms of the fever.

He said: "I got off the bus, but couldn't walk. My joints started to ache, then I bought panadol, ate it, had some sleep and I felt better after that."

Tan Tock Seng Hospital is making sure that patients get a good rest. They are also given medication to reduce pain as there is currently no specific treatment for chikungunya fever.

The National Environment Agency's Environment Health Institute has taken blood tests of 11 people in the same living quarters as Mr Vidwasekar.


- CNA/so



Chikungunya fever detected, believed to be locally transmitted


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