Dengue and Chikungunya co-infection: A dual arbovirus serosurvey in an industrial hub of southern West Bengal

• Author Details:   
• Longjam Langamba Angom
• Dipmala Das
• Mousumi Paul ^*

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Background: Arthropod-borne fevers, particularly Dengue and Chikungunya, pose significant health challenges across India. While research on these illnesses is extensive in many regions, data on simultaneous infections is scarce, especially in eastern India. This study investigates the occurrence of Dengue and Chikungunya, both individually and in combination, at a major medical centre in Durgapur's industrial zone. Despite numerous reports on the symptoms and effects of these viruses separately, there's a notable gap in understanding their joint presence in eastern Indian populations. This study sheds light on the seroprevalence of Dengue and Chikungunya as individual infections and co-infections in a tertiary healthcare facility in Durgapur, an industrialized city in southern West Bengal.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted for a period of 8 months. Serum sample collected from patients subjected to Dengue NS1 antigen & IgM antibody and Chikungunya IgM antibody detection by ELISA.

Result: The study examined 364 samples, revealing 19.78% (72 cases) were dengue-positive, 7.97% (29 cases) were Chikungunya-positive, and 3.85% (14 cases) showed co-infection of both viruses. Individuals aged 25-40 were most susceptible, with women generally more affected, except for Chikungunya, where men predominated. Dengue cases peaked in August, while Chikungunya and co-infections were more prevalent in July. Co-infected patients exhibited symptoms common to both diseases.

Conclusion: Chikungunya incidence is increasing in the region. It emphasises the importance of testing for both viruses in suspected cases, given their co-circulation in endemic areas. This approach ensures that appropriate treatment can be implemented promptly.

Keywords: Dengue, Chikungunya, Co-infection, NS1 antigen, IgM antibody.