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Entomologic Investigations of a Chikungunya Virus Epidemic in the Union of the Comoros, 2005

From January to April 2005, an epidemic of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness occurred in the Union of Comoros. Entomological studies were undertaken during the peak of the outbreak, from March 11 to March 31, aimed at identifying the primary vector(s) involved in transmission so that appropriate public health measures could be implemented. Adult mosquitoes were collected by backpack aspiration and human landing collection in homes and neighborhoods of clinically ill patients. Water-holding containers were inspected for presence of mosquito larvae. Adult mosquitoes were analyzed by RT-PCR and cultivation in cells for the presence of CHIK virus and/or nucleic acid. A total of 2,326 mosquitoes were collected and processed in 199 pools. The collection consisted of 62.8% Aedes aegypti, 25.5% Culex species, and 10.7% Aedes simpsoni complex, Eretmapodites spp and Anopheles spp. Seven mosquito pools were found to be positive for CHIKV RNA and 1 isolate was obtained. The single CHIKV mosquito isolate was from a pool of Aedes aegypti and the minimum infection rate (MIR) for this species was 4.0, suggesting that Ae. aegypti was the principal vector responsible for the outbreak. This was supported by high container (31.1%), household (68%), and Breteau (126) indices, with discarded tires (58.8%) and small cooking and water storage vessels (31.1%) registering the highest container indices.

Received October 28, 2006. Accepted for publication August 8, 2007.

Acknowledgments: We thank the people of Comoros for their support during the sampling operations in their homes. We also thank the officials of Ministry of Health of Comoros for inviting us and facilitating our operations, the staff of the WHO country office for logistic and administrative support, and John T. Roehrig, Roy L. Campbell, Ned Hayes, and the Division of Vector Borne Infectious Disease (DVBID) travel group for facilitating the participation and travel of the CDC team members.

Disclaimer: This article is published with permission of the director, Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Comoros Health Ministry office. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

^* Address correspondence to Ann M. Powers, CDC, 3150 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521. E-mail: APowers{at}cdc.gov

Authors’ addresses: Rosemary C. Sang, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. Ouledi Ahmed, Ali Ahmed Yahaya, Ibrahim Mmadi, and Ali Toilibou, Ministry of Health, Moroni, Union de les Comores. Ousmane Faye, Naftali Agata, Allarangar Yakouide, and Mamadou D. Ball, World Health Organization, African Regional Office (AFRO), Brazzaville, Republic of Congo and Moroni, Union de les Comores. Kibet Sergon, Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Nairobi, Kenya. Robert F. Breiman, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. Cindy L. H. Kelly, Jennifer Brown, Barry R. Miller, and Ann M. Powers, Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.