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An outbreak of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness associated with high fever combined with prolonged and severe arthralgias occurred on Grande Comore Island from January through May 2005; 5,202 cases were reported. A seroprevalence study was conducted to define the extent of transmission on the island. We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a multistage sampling technique. A total of 481 households were sampled. In each household, one resident was selected randomly for interview and blood collection. We administered questionnaires and tested 331 sera for CHIKV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies by capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infection with CHIKV infection (seropositivity) was defined as presence of IgG and/or IgM antibodies to CHIKV. A total of 331 (69%) of 481 survey participants consented to blood collection. Antibodies to CHIKV were detected in 63% of sera; IgM antibodies were found in 60% of specimens and IgG antibodies were detected in 27% of specimens. Extrapolation of the findings to the entire Grande Comore population suggested that nearly 215,000 people were infected with CHIKV during the outbreak. A total of 79% of the seropositive persons were hospitalized or stayed at home in bed for a mean of 6 days (range = 1–30 days); 52% missed work or school for a mean of 7 days (range = 1–40 days). The findings suggest that CHIKV was broadly transmitted during the outbreak with a high attack rate. Although not fatal during this outbreak, CHIKV infection caused significant morbidity and decreased economic productivity.
Received September 8, 2006. Accepted for publication February 21, 2007.
Acknowledgments: We thank the people of Grande Comore Island for their participation in the study and their patience, and acknowledge the support of the staff of the Ministry of Health of Grande Comore, the staff of the World Health Organization, including the country office, and the African Regional Office. We appreciate input and laboratory support of the Kenya Medical Research Institute the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Fort Collins, CO). We benefited from logistic and technical support from the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program–-Kenya and the International Emerging Infections Program–Kenya of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* Address correspondence to Robert F. Breiman, International Emerging Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. E-mail: rbreiman{at}ke.cdc.gov
Authors’ addresses: Kibet Sergon, Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Nairobi, Kenya. Ali Ahmed Yahaya, Said A. Bedja, and Mohammed Mlindasse, Ministry of Health, Moroni, Co-moros. Jennifer Brown and Ann M. Powers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado. Naphtali Agata and Yokouide Allaranger, World Health Organization, Moroni, Como-ros. Mamadou D. Ball, World Health Organization, African Regional Office, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Victor Ofula, Clayton On-yango, Limbaso S. Konongoi, and Rosemary Sang, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. M. Kariuki Njenga and Robert F. Breiman, International Emerging Infections Program–Kenya, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.
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