The small town of Kulim in Kedah has reported a small outbreak of chikungunya.

Situation under control

According to a report by Bernama, a total of 28 people in two localities in Kulim have been infected with chikungunya.

Kedah health director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang told the news agency that the first locality was detected at Flat Jati on 2 September, while the second one was detected at Taman Sawi, which now has five cases.

He added that those infected showed symptoms such as fever, joint pain and rashes.

While he said the situation is under control, he advised those living in the affected localities to seek treatment immediately if they experience any symptoms associated with chikungunya.

"The public is also advised to conduct self-inspection at home and eliminate Aedes breeding grounds besides using the aerosol spray in the house between 6 am to 8 am and 6pm to 8pm when Aedes is most active," he was quoted as saying.

What is chikungunya?

Just like dengue, chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.

The disease is caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and if infected, one may experience high fever and severe joint pain.

On top of that, a patient may even develop other symptoms such as swelling of the joints, nausea, rashes, fatigue and headaches.

Now, here's the scary bit: there's currently no vaccine or specific drug against the virus, so this is why you should be vigilant and get rid of any stagnant water near your home immediately.

According to the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), the infected mosquitoes typically bite during the early morning and late afternoon.