Public Health - Chikungunya: Quatre-Bornes at the Center of the Epidemic

The chikungunya epidemic shows no signs of abating in Mauritius. With 59 new cases reported in just 24 hours and a daily average of 40 infections, health authorities are urging the public to exercise greater vigilance and personal responsibility.

The toll is rising. Since the beginning of the year, 1,474 cases of chikungunya have been recorded in Mauritius, with 87 active cases currently, according to Dr. Fazil Khodabocus, the interim director of health services.

Geographically, the epidemic is shifting and intensifying. While the outskirts of Rose Hill continue to report cases, Dr. Khodabocus notes a slight decline in those areas. Conversely, the Quatre-Bornes region and its surroundings – Bassin, La Louise, and Palma – are now home to the majority of new infections. Areas such as La Caverne, Vacoas, Résidences La Cure, and Tyack in Rivière-des-Anguilles are also affected.

The interim health director attributes this persistence to climatic conditions. "Chikungunya continues to thrive due to the ongoing warm weather and occasional rains, which are conducive to mosquito proliferation." He emphasizes the importance of eliminating potential breeding sites and recommends using repellents to protect against bites.

Beyond individual prevention, Dr. Khodabocus stresses a crucial link in the transmission chain: isolating infected individuals. The incubation period typically spans three to seven days, during which an infected person remains "contagious" for about seven days. During this time, a mosquito that bites an infected person can transmit the disease to others. Therefore, he insists that sick individuals stay home to prevent further infections.

Call for Responsibility

To support this measure, authorities are issuing a seven-day medical certificate. "We provide them with a seven-day medical certificate so they can stay home to complete the necessary recovery time," explains Dr. Khodabocus. This procedure also ensures that patients are outside their viremia period. Health services regularly contact those isolating at home to ensure compliance with this directive.

However, not everyone adheres to the protocol. The interim director acknowledges that confirming compliance for all cases is challenging. In light of this, he appeals to everyone's sense of responsibility. "We ask each person to act responsibly. If they are infected with chikungunya, they must stay home if they have a medical certificate, as they are infectious for five to seven days. If they are bitten by a mosquito, the insect will transmit the disease to others."

Dr. Khodabocus notes that many situations have seen the relatives of infected individuals later becoming infected themselves. Hospitalizing all cases is not feasible, as it would place further pressure on the public health system. "It is important for the public to realize that if we ask them to stay home, they must adhere to this directive."

On the ground, for each reported case, health inspectors conduct a fever survey within the affected area. Teams have been strengthened with support from the Special Mobile Force and MauriFacilities, among others. Larviciding exercises are being conducted to control sporadic cases reported outside the most affected zones. According to Dr. Khodabocus, authorities are managing to contain the epidemic's spread, albeit with difficulty.