Samar: Chikungunya cases in Samar province are now under control after at least 372 residents contracted the mosquito-borne disease this month, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office said Friday. Roderick Boyd Cerro, head of the DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said there has been no further surge in cases in the municipalities of Basey and Gandara, where outbreaks were declared earlier this month.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cerro stated that there has been strengthened coordination with local government units to manage the spread of chikungunya effectively after reports of an increase in cases. Local authorities conducted fogging activities to reduce the mosquito population in affected communities.

Sporadic cases continue to be reported in different parts of the region; however, the number of new infections is no longer considered alarming. Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease transmitted through infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are commonly found in the country.

The disease shares many symptoms with dengue, including fever, headache, rash, muscle pain, and severe joint pain, making the two mosquito-borne illnesses difficult to distinguish without laboratory testing. There is no specific cure for chikungunya, and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. While most patients recover completely, joint pain can be debilitating and, in some cases, may persist for months or even years.