Chikungunya infection confirmed in a Moroccan traveller returning from Bangladesh

Authors

  • Tahar Bajjou Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Ahmed Reggad Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Farida Hilali Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Safae Elkochri Virology Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Abdelilah Laraqui Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Nadia Touil Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Idriss Lahlou Amine Virology Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Yassine Sekhsokh Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat
  • Fattouma Mahassine Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20175746

Keywords:

Chikungunya, Imported, RT-PCR, Risk, Morocco

Abstract

Recently, several countries reported imported cases of infection with chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We report the first case of chikungunya virus infection in Morocco. A 37-year old woman returned to Morocco on 15 August 2017, after she stayed in Dhaka-Bangladesh for 18months. She developed severe arthralgias and rash, fever up to 39°c. In next day’s symptoms progressively subsided but arthralgias remained for 3weeks. Laboratory findings didn't show lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia or elevated liver transaminases. Serological tests were positive for CHIKV IgM and negative for IgG antibodies. CHIKV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR. The patient was treated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol. After 15days of hospitalization, symptoms ameliorated but arthralgias persists. The vector is established in Morocco and since the virus is diagnosed in returning travellers, chikungunya has a potential for autochthonous transmission in Morocco, that’s why CHIKV must be included in the differential diagnosis of arthralgia in all travellers returning from countries with documented transmission of the virus.

Author Biography

Yassine Sekhsokh, Research and Biosafety Laboratory, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat



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Published

2017-12-23

How to Cite

Bajjou, T., Reggad, A., Hilali, F., Elkochri, S., Laraqui, A., Touil, N., Lahlou Amine, I., Sekhsokh, Y., & Mahassine, F. (2017). Chikungunya infection confirmed in a Moroccan traveller returning from Bangladesh. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 6(1), 343–346. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20175746

Issue

Section

Case Reports