The first case of the chikungunya fever virus has been confirmed in Romania, Digi24 reported. It is a 50-year-old man who recently returned from Africa, BTA reported.
The disease, transmitted through mosquito bites, is rare in Europe and occurs mainly in Africa and South America, the information released states.
“People traveling to areas such as Africa should visit an international vaccination clinic a month or two in advance to assess and prevent real risks. Viral infections such as chikungunya can manifest in mild or asymptomatic forms, but people with weakened immune systems – due to diseases or age – can develop severe, life-threatening forms. "The symptoms can resemble a common viral infection or flu, especially during the flu season, which can delay diagnosis if the epidemiological context is not taken into account," Adrian Marinescu, director of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Matei Bals" in Bucharest, explained on Digi24.
He warned that if not treated properly, such an infection can lead to serious complications such as sepsis and damage to multiple organs. Adrian Marinescu also said that the virus is not easily transmitted from person to person, except in situations where a local mosquito would transmit the disease from one infected person to another.
A case of chikungunya was also detected in Bulgaria earlier this year, again in a patient who had returned from abroad.