The Chikungunya Virus: A Reemerging Cause of Acute Febrile Illness in the High Jungle of Northern Peru

Abstract

Purpose: The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arboviral disease with increasing expansion in Peru. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical presentation, and seasonality of acute febrile illness (AFI) due to Chikungunya virus in Jaen-Cajamarca, Peru. Methods & Materials: A consecutive cross-sectional study was performed in febrile patients attending primary healthcare centers from April 2020 through June 2021. This study was performed alongside the epidemiological surveillance of acute febrile illness (AFI). Patients were included if they presented with AFI, defined as an axillary temperature greater than or equal to 38°C within at least 7 days prior to consultation without an identifiable source of infection. The signs and symptoms were assessed and recorded by the attending physician in a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and sent to a central laboratory, where PCR analysis for the molecular detection of CHIKV was performed. Results: A total of 88 CHIKV cases were identified from 1047 patients with acute febrile illness, with a prevalence of (8.40%). The main clinical characteristics identified in CHIKV positive patients were headache 81.82%, myalgia 70.45%, arthralgia 65.91% and retro-ocular pain 48.86%. No cases of severe disease were identified. Most of the infected patients were adults between 18-39 years (45.45%) and 40-59 years (25.00%). A 50% were male and 44.32% female, the rest were not classified in the clinical record. The majority of the CHIKV cases occurred in February-March (32.95%), May (14.77%) and July (13.64%). Conclusion: The Chikungunya virus is still an ongoing emerging disease at the high jungle of northern Peru. It is an important cause of AFI, presenting non-specific clinical symptoms, thus the development of accurate and precise molecular techniques is important. Patients require precise and point of care laboratory diagnosis. The seasonality is probably related to the rain season and its consequence on the life cycle of the vector. Infections by this virus may go unnoticed in the national surveillance system.