〔編譯胡立宗／綜合報導〕新加坡再傳曲弓熱疫情，世界衛生組織（ＷＨＯ）蚊蟲傳染病專家警告，在現今跨國交通便利及全球暖化助長蚊蟲擴散的情況下，曲弓熱將更容易散布到亞洲其他國家，甚至連美、歐也難倖免。
台灣 也有3起境外移入案例
ＷＨＯ專家納桑表示，曲弓熱影響層面很大，這次疫情爆發也非常突兀及劇烈，造成許多人同時湧入醫院使衛生單位疲於奔命。除了新加坡的本土性疫情，台灣去年也發現三起境外移入案例，其中兩起發生在去年十二月。
新加坡這次的疫情開始於本月十四日，一名來自孟加拉的二十七歲男子被驗出感染曲弓熱，衛生單位隨即將小印度客來富街一帶的五百人血液樣本送驗，到十九日已經發現共八起疑似或確定案例，病患多數來自印度或孟加拉，其中四人已經康復，另外四人仍在接受隔離觀察。
8起本土病例 新加坡淪陷
新加坡今年疫情的特別之處在於，以往的十三起曲弓熱案例都是境外移入，但這次染病的患者過去一到三個月內都未曾出境，衛生單位因此研判曲弓熱已在星國生根，成為本土性疫病。
症狀似登革熱 痠痛明顯
星國目前採取的防疫措施為全面滅蚊、呼籲家戶注意環境清潔、建議外出時穿長袖衣物，並提醒國外旅客注意相關疫情，做好防蚊準備。
曲弓熱症狀與登革熱類似，染病後會發燒、頭痛、疲勞、噁心、嘔吐、出疹、肌肉及關節疼痛，但與登革熱不同之處為，曲弓熱不會導致內出血，只是痠痛情形可能長達數月甚至數年。
曲弓熱最早在一九五○年代於坦尚尼亞被確認，接著亞洲和非洲都陸續傳出疫情。造成曲弓熱擴散的原因，除了國際交通越來越便利，還包括曲弓熱出現變型病毒和全球暖化使蚊蟲活動範圍北移。
全球化傳播 今夏恐擴及歐美
曲弓熱最早只能靠黃熱蚊傳遞，但在二○○五年印度的案例中發現，曲弓熱已出現突變，可經由亞洲虎蚊傳染，由於亞洲虎蚊較為耐冷，使得曲弓熱的擴散範圍可能遠及中高緯度的歐洲及北美。
First Chikungunya fever 曲弓熱 case detected in Taiwan
By Angelica OungSTAFF REPORTER
Saturday, Nov 25, 2006, Page 2
The country has reported its first ever case of Chikungunya fever, a Center for Disease Control (CDC) official said yesterday.
A 13-year-old Taiwanese student was detected with a high fever at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Nov. 20 upon his return from Singapore where he studies.
At the time, he said he was suffering from fever and fatigue and after examining a blood sample from the boy, the CDC announced that he had contracted Chikungunya fever.
"This disease is very similar to Dengue fever, but less likely to be fatal" said Chou Jih-haw (
Chikungunya fever patients suffer substantial joint pain in addition to Dengue fever-like symptoms such as fever, headaches and muscular aches, Chou said.
"When the patient entered Taiwan, heat-registering cameras at the airport indicated that he had a fever" said Chou, "We were able to conduct a blood test on the spot."
If the virus is still in its incubating phase, it is impossible to detect carriers at the airport, said Chou.
Like Dengue-fever登革熱 sufferers who are stopped at the airport, the Chikungunya sufferer was allowed to enter Taiwan with no restrictions on movement.
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