The 1974 epidemic of Chikungunya fever in children in Ibadan

Abstract

During an epidemic of Chikunguya fever in Ibadan 16 strains of Chikungunya virus were recovered from children reporting sick with fever at the University College Hospital and Oluyoro Catholic Hospital Outpatient Clinic. Twelve strains were obtained from children within the 1-4 year age group, two from 5-10 year group and one each from less than one-year age group, and 10-15 year age group. A retrospective survey for neutralising antibodies to Chikungunya shows a significantly higher proportion of children were positive for Chikungunya N antibodies just after the 1969 epidemic than in 1974 just before the epidemic, with resultant pooling of Chikungunya seronegative children who are susceptible to infection.