SURINAME  – Within two weeks the number of  chikungunya cases jumped from 39 to 59. Officials from the Public Health Bureau (BOG) indicate that most cases were reported in the districts  Paramaribo, Commewijne and  Wanica. The virus has also spread to other districts because 2 cases have been confirmed in the Para District while 1 case has been confirmed in the Wanica District.

The General Director at the BOG, Lesly Resida,  pointed out that reports suggest that all of these cases were initially imported from Guyana before spreading further.The cases occur in the same region which suggest that the virus does not easily spread from one residential area to another. As soon as a few cases have been confirmed a team from the BOG heads to the area in question to spray malation…[+]