By Pongphon Sarnsamak

THAILAND - The Public Health Ministry has warned pregnant women of the dangers of chikunkunya disease following the discovery that two unborn babies in Trang province had been infected after their mothers were bitten by mosquitoes.

Department of Disease Control's director-general, Dr Somchai Chakrabhand said the two babies are safe now - but pregnant women should use repellent and take greater precautions against chikunkunya, which is carried by the garden striped (Aedes aegypti ) mosquito.

He said the disease transmission rate from pregnant mothers to their unborn children was 50 percent.

"Pregnant women who have fallen ill should undergo treatment at hospital immediately," he said. "Any viral infection would be dangerous for a newborn baby."

Kamnuan Ungchusak, a senior health expert, said a woman infected during the last week of pregnancy would almost certainly transmit the infection to her baby which would develop high fever and neurological symptoms.

The disease resembles dengue fever, and is characterised by severe, sometimes persistent, joint pain (arthritis), as well as fever and rash. It is rarely life-threatening but causes substantial morbidity and economic loss.

The Public Health Ministry has urged officers in 48 provinces to monitor the spread of chikunkunya and dengue fever after reports that thousands have been infected with the two diseases - 22,000 with chikunkunya and 11,091 from dengue fever,which has killed at least twelve.

Under the law, health care workers must inform their provincial office within 24 hours of an outbreak so action can be taken to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds and control spread of the diseases.

No vaccine is available against chikunkunya virus infection. Somchai suggested people sleep under mosquito nets and wear long sleeved clothes and long dresses to cover the limbs.

"You should stay at home at least five days if infected with chikunkunya and use repellent lotion to prevent the spread of disease to others," he said.

The Public Health Ministry will ask the Ministry of Interior and Local Administration Organisation for help in monitoring spread of the diseases.