Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIBREVILLE223
2007-05-14 13:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER EPIDEMIC IN GABON

Tags:  SOCI PGOV TBIO GB 
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VZCZCXRO4283
RR RUEHBZ RUEHGI
DE RUEHLC #0223 1341334
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141334Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9708
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0398
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 0006
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0852
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1384
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0347
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0962
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0433
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0888
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0805
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0658
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI PGOV TBIO GB
SUBJECT: CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER EPIDEMIC IN GABON 
 
 
1 (U) Gabon is currently experiencing a chikungunya fever 
outbreak, with the local media terming it an epidemic. The 
first cases were apparently reported about three weeks ago. 
According to press accounts, there have already been 5,000 
cases, with one hospital in Libreville reporting 300 new 
cases per day. The WHO office in Libreville is currently 
unable to verify those figures. 
 

2. (U) On May 10, the President and the Cabinet formulated 
plans to attack the epidemic. The government is offering 
free care to chikungunya victims. There have been no deaths 
from the fever reported so far. 
 

3. (U) FYI: Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral 
fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito 
bites. 
 
WALKLEY