New Delhi, Oct 4
The size and severity of chikungunya outbreaks -- a mosquito-borne disease is unpredictable, according to a study.
"Chikungunya outbreaks are unpredictable in both size and severity," said Alex Perkins, Professor of infectious disease epidemiology in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Changes in outbreaks of chikungunya, transmitted by bites from infected mosquitoes -- Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus are the primary vectors -- and other mosquito-borne illnesses are often considered in relation to climate change, as warmer, more humid conditions can promote mosquito activity.
But Perkins noted that the study showed that climate isn't necessarily the most important factor when trying to predict the severity of an outbreak of disease caused by a virus like chikungunya.