Use of Household Cluster Investigations to Identify Factors Associated with Chikungunya Virus Infection and Frequency of Case Reporting in Puerto Rico.
Danielle BlochNicole M RothElba V CaraballoJorge Muñoz-JordanElizabeth HunspergerAidsa RiveraJanice Pérez-PadillaBrenda Rivera GarciaTyler M SharpPublished in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2016)
This investigation revealed high rates of CHIKV infection among household members and neighbors of chikungunya patients, and that behavioral interventions such as use of air conditioning were associated with prevention of CHIKV infection. Nearly two-thirds of patients with symptomatic CHIKV infection sought medical care, of which less than one-quarter were reportedly diagnosed with chikungunya and one-in-ten were reported to public health authorities. These findings emphasize the need for point-of-care rapid diagnostic tests to optimize identification and reporting of chikungunya patients.