French Guiana finds case of disabling mosquito-borne disease

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2006

CAYENNE, French Guiana (AFP) — French Guiana has confirmed its first case of chikungunya, a disabling mosquito-borne disease, in a woman who had returned from Madagascar, health authorities said.

Two sisters were suspected last week of carrying the disease after returning to this French overseas department in South America from the African Indian Ocean island of Madasgacar.

One sister living near French Guiana's main city of Cayenne tested positive for the virus, while the second sibling, living in the west, is awaiting results.

An outbreak of chikungunya started in the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion more than a year ago, affecting more than 200,000 people and killing 125.

The first cases of the diseases appeared in Madagascar, which is west...