00:00WHO warns of looming chikungunya epidemic 3th World Health Organization WHO has issued an
00:09urgent global warning about a potential repeat of the 2002-2005 chikungunya epidemic as the
00:16mosquito-borne virus resurges from the Indian Ocean region and spreads to Europe data in
00:21estimated 5.6 billion people worldwide are at risk from the virus which causes fever and severe joint
00:28pain. WHO's Diana Rojas Alvarez stated that we are seeing history repeating itself,
00:34noting major outbreaks began in early 2025 in islands like La Reunion, where a third of the
00:39population is infected, the virus is now rapidly spreading to countries including India, Madagascar,
00:46and parts of Europe. With hundreds of imported cases and local transmissions detected in France
00:51and Italy, Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to this global trend, currently battling its own
00:57significant chikungunya outbreak since late 2024, after a 16-year lull. The epidemiology unit reported
01:04173 cases by March 2025 from key districts. This ray emergence involves a strain from the wider Indian
01:11ocean lineage, health officials face challenges due to a concurrent Deng epidemic, with recent data
01:17showing women and middle-aged adults disproportionately affected.Travel warnings for Sri Lanka have also been
01:23issued by some countries with no specific treatment available. Prevention remains crucial. Authorities
01:29emphasize vigilant mosquito control, use of repellents, and protective clothing to curb the rapid spread of the virus.
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