The number of chikungunya cases in reported in Rio de Janeiro state during the first quarter of 2018 is nearly triple the number seen during the same period last year, according to a G1.globo.com report (computer translated).
From January to March of this year there were 4,262 notifications of chikungunya, while during the same period last year, 1,585 cases were reported.
In fact, authorities say the number of cases this year is nearly the total seen for all of 2017 (4,305).
854 chikungunya cases were reported in the city of Rio alone. The highest number of notifications was the West Zone, mainly in the neighborhoods of Campo Grande, Guaratiba and Santa Cruz.
Last week, government officials announced it will inspect property in the West Zone for mosquito breeding sites.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue and Zika, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where they are common. As there is no cure, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.