Romania has confirmed the first case of infection with the Chikungunya virus, a rare viral disease in Europe, transmitted by mosquito bites.
The patient is a man around 50 years old, who recently returned from Africa, where the virus is endemic. The confirmation was made public by Adrian Marinescu, the manager of the „Matei Balș” National Institute of Infectious Diseases, in an intervention on Digi24.
According to the doctor, the diagnosis was made in a clear epidemiological context, and the progression of the case was more complicated due to underlying oncological issues. The patient is currently under medical supervision and is expected to be discharged.
### Dr. Adrian Marinescu: We should remain calm
The manager of the „Matei Balș” Institute emphasized that this is not a situation that should cause panic, but he highlighted the importance of correct diagnosis and assessment of the epidemiological context.
„We should remain calm, because ultimately, this virus, Chikungunya is called, is somewhat similar to other viral infections that can cause fever. It is a viral infection that should be diagnosed every time a person comes from a high-risk area. It is important to have a high-performance hospital to be able to make this correct diagnosis,” stated Adrian Marinescu.
The doctor explained that the disease can range from mild to severe, especially in individuals with weakened immunity, due to age or chronic conditions.
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### What is the Chikungunya virus and how does it manifest
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes from the Aedes species, especially Aedes albopictus, also known as the „tiger mosquito”. The disease is commonly found in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and rarely occurs in Europe, with most cases being imported.
Symptoms usually appear 3-7 days after the mosquito bite and include sudden fever, intense muscle and joint pain, pronounced fatigue, headaches, and sometimes skin rashes. All these symptoms are similar to those of the flu or a common viral infection, which can delay diagnosis if the travel history is not taken into account.
In most cases, the prognosis is favorable, but joint pains can persist for weeks or months.
In severe forms, especially in vulnerable patients, serious complications can occur, including sepsis, an extreme and dangerous reaction of the body to infection, where the immune system spirals out of control and begins to affect its own organs.
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### Why is the diagnosis difficult
Adrian Marinescu explained that diagnosing Chikungunya requires special laboratory equipment and specific reagents, even though the disease occurs extremely rarely.
„Even though we are talking about very few cases, reagents need to be acquired and paid for. For exotic diseases, there must be equipment and diagnostic capacity, even if they occur once in many years,” noted the manager of the „Matei Balș” Institute.
He added that such diagnoses are usually made in specialized medical centers with experience in managing rare infectious diseases.
**The Chikungunya virus is not transmitted directly from person to person**. Transmission is only possible through a mosquito biting an infected person and then transmitting the virus to another person.
„It is possible that, in the future, cases of exotic diseases may also appear in Romania that are not just imported,” warned Adrian Marinescu, explaining that theoretically, a native mosquito could transmit the disease if certain conditions are met.
Medical authorities are monitoring the situation, and specialists recommend seeking prompt medical advice in case of suggestive symptoms after returning from high-risk areas.