title: A major epidemic of chikungunya virus infection on Reunion Island, France, 2005-2006.
abstract: In January 2005, an epidemic of chikungunya fever broke out in the Comoro Islands and lasted until May 2005. In April, cases were also reported in Mayotte and Mauritius. On Réunion Island, the first cases were reported at the end of April. Surveillance of this epidemic required an adaptive system, which at first was based on active and retrospective case detection around the cases reported, then relied on a sentinel network when the incidence increased. Emerging and severe forms of infection were investigated. Death certificates were monitored. By April 2006, the surveillance estimate was 244,000 cases of chikungunya virus infection, including 123 severe cases and 41 of maternoneonatal transmission, with an overall attack rate of 35%. Chikungunya infection was mentioned on 203 death certificates and significant mortality was observed. This epidemic highlighted the need for a mutual strategy of providing information on arboviral diseases and their prevention and control between countries in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
authors.affiliation: Cellule Interrégionale d'Epidémiologie Réunion-Mayotte, Saint-Denis, France. philippe.renault@sante.gouv.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renault
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Solet
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sissoko
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balleydier
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larrieu
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filleul
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lassalle
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thiria
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rachou
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Valk
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilef
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ledrans
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quatresous
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quenel
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pierre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods