ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia announced on Tuesday that the number of its nationals infected by a Chikungunya disease outbreak has reached 20,000.

In a press statement, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI), said although Ethiopia has conducted an extensive anti-Chikungunya spray campaign in the disease's epicenter, the eastern city of Dire Dawa, there was still a spike in the number of Chikungunya sufferers.

On Thursday EPHI had disclosed 15, 192 Ethiopians had been infected by Chikungunya disease outbreak.

According to EPHI, Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and sever joint pain. It is rarely fatal, and symptoms are generally self-limiting and last two to three days.

EPHI has disclosed so far there has been no recorded cases of fatalities despite the high number of Chikungunya infections in a relatively short period of time.

The institute is currently undertaking house to house spray campaigns, societal awareness campaign and free medical tests in Chikungunya-affected areas of Ethiopia.

Chikungunya, which has similar clinical signs with dengue cases, has recently affected Ethiopia's Somali, Afar, Southern regional states as well as the Dire Dawa city council. Enditem

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