French Polynesia Reports 18K Chikungunya Cases; Disease Threatens Other South Pacific Nations, Officials Report
Reuters: Mosquito-borne chikungunya now spreading rapidly through South Pacific
“Chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne viral disease, has taken hold in French Polynesia, spreading rapidly and threatening neighboring Pacific nations, regional health authorities said on Wednesday. … French Polynesia, with a population of more than 268,000, said four people had died and more than 18,000 people had sought treatment for the disease since October, the first outbreak in the archipelago...” (Lefort, 12/2).