New Mutated Chikungunya Variant Causes Paralysis, Blackened Noses, and Dengue-Like Symptoms in Pune
Experts urge NIV’s intervention as cases surge beyond control; medical fraternity scrambling for answers as sudden drop in platelet counts was never a feature of this vector-borne disease
By PuneMirror Bureau
Reported By Nozia Sayyed
Sun, 15 Sep 2024
05:11 amNew Mutated Chikungunya Variant Causes Paralysis, Blackened Noses, and Dengue-Like Symptoms in Pune
A new variant of the Chikungunya virus has wreaked havoc across the city. For the very first time in recorded history, Chikungunya is displaying terrifying, life-threatening symptoms — including paralysis.Pause
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Infectious disease experts have urgently sought the National Institute of Virology (NIV) intervention and requested the national body to step in and shed light on this mutated variant.
Never-seen-before symptoms
According to Pune’s infectious disease experts, Chikungunya, once known for causing joint pain and fever, has undergone a major and dangerous shift. The city, which has already recorded over 2,000 cases, is seeing symptoms never seen before. The virus is claimed to be mimicking dengue and causing bizarre symptoms that have now left doctors baffled.
Dr. Rajesh Gadia, a national dengue expert and head of the ICU at KEM Hospital, told Pune Times Mirror, saying, “Among the most shocking of these symptoms is the blackening of the nose — a feature that has never been associated with Chikungunya in the past. Patients affected by this symptom are finding it difficult to move around socially due to the disfigurement, which lingers for around two weeks.
“Around 20 percent of the patients are coming in with blackened noses, something we have never seen before. “It sounds unusual, but this feature has embarrassed patients, making them hesitant to step out.” Gadia was the first to detect dengue in Pune way back in 1994.
Paralysis hits Chikungunya patients The most shocking and dangerous development, however, is the onset of paralysis in many Chikungunya patients, according to Gadia.
Doctors report that neuropathy has become increasingly common, leading to paralysis in a large number of cases. This is the first time Chikungunya has been known to cause such severe complications, said Gadia.
“Patients are developing nerve damage, and many are even experiencing paralysis. I have seen over 1,000 Chikungunya cases in the last six to eight weeks, with around 30 new cases daily at my OPD. This strain is something we have never encountered before,” said Gadia, adding that the number of cases flooding in has left doctors scrambling for answers.
“Areas like Wagholi, Prabhat Road, Chandan Nagar, Hadapsar, BT Kawade Road, Kalyaninagar, Alandi, Moshi, Chakan, and Bhosari are reporting entire families being struck down by this dangerous variant. In some cases, as many as eight members of a single family have been infected, indicating that Chikungunya’s grip on the city is tightening every passing day,” added Gadia.
Chikungunya mimics dengue
To make matters worse, Chikungunya is now mimicking dengue, Gadia claimed, adding that it is causing severe confusion among the medical fraternity. “Patients are developing complications like water in the lungs and stomach, which are classic symptoms of dengue but have now been seen in Chikungunya cases. Even more frightening is the sudden drop in platelet counts, which was never a feature of Chikungunya in the past. Platelets are now falling to dangerously low levels of 5,000, making this variant life-threatening.
“Previously, we never saw platelets drop below 80,000 to 90,000 in Chikungunya cases, but now they are plummeting to as low as 5,000. “These features are clashing, and doctors struggling to determine whether they are dealing with dengue or Chikungunya,” said Gadia.
NIV’s intervention needed
With Chikungunya spiralling out of control and transforming into a potentially deadly epidemic, Pune’s top infectious disease experts have now sought NIV’s help.
Agreeing with Gadia and his observations, Dr. Ameet Dravid, senior infectious diseases expert from Noble Hospital stressed that it is time for an immediate intervention. “The strain this time is highly dangerous. It is affecting children and people with comorbidities severely, causing major complications like peripheral neuropathy and even quadriplegia
“Hence, we need NIV’s expertise to understand what’s happening with this new strain.” Gadia and Dravid have requested an official sequencing of the current chikungunya strain to determine what has caused this terrifying transformation. Without intervention, the situation could worsen and may continue until winter sets in
Besides this, doctors have urged their colleagues to be vigilant and conduct tests early to differentiate between Chikungunya and dengue.
Experts recommended the NS1 test to rule out dengue and perform PCR tests within the first five days to catch Chikungunya before it progresses
“Around 30 percent of Chikungunya patients are now coming in with vomiting and gastro symptoms, which is also unheard of. The virus is presenting unique features that we cannot ignore. “This new Chikungunya variant is not just another fever; it is a killer,” said Gadia.
Patients are developing nerve damage, and many are even experiencing paralysis. They are showing complications like water in the lungs and stomach, which are classic symptoms of dengue but have now been seen in Chikungunya cases. — Dr. Rajesh Gadia, Head of ICU, KEM Hospital
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