Resurgence of Dengue-like and Chikungunya-like illness in New Delhi, India During 2016

Arboviral infections like Dengue and Chikungunya fever are of global importance especially in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Both the viral infections are transmitted by common vector i.e. Aedes mosquitoes leading to their co-circulation in endemic areas. The two viral infections show overlapping clinical symptoms. New Delhi, the metropolitan city of India has reported sudden increase in number of cases of Dengue-like and Chikungunya-like illness during monsoon and post-monsoon season of 2016. Further, higher number of Chikungunya-like illness cases was reported in addition to concurrent and successive infections with both the viruses from this region during this year. Some unique clinical manifestations in the patients were reported during this year in addition to the classical symptoms. Accurate, timely and differential diagnosis of the illness will contribute to appropriate patient management. Further, epidemiological and virological investigation of the clinical samples collected during this period will provide information about the etiological agents of this illness that will assist in formulation of control measures.