Disaster - Possible

overtake of

Chikungunya (insect

borne virus) as a

Biological Weapon

Area - Prevention

“Chikungunya =

Virus + Epidemic +

Biological Weapon.

Stop it before it

paralyses us.”

Biological Weapons are the weapons of ‘Tomorrow’.

One of them is Chikungunya (CHIKV) virus.

It is transmitted to human beings by the virus carrying ‘Aedes-mosquitoes’.

Widespread Dengue fever and malaria.

Prolonged arthralgic disease – pain of the joints in human body.

The infection of joints last for weeks or months, in some cases for years.

It also may lead to Pedal oedema (swelling of legs).

A single mutation in Chikungunya Virus affects the vector specificity and is an potential for an Epidemic.

There has been increase in the severity of this virus since 2005

Affected areas are Asia, Africa and also some parts of Europe

It is also a key agent of Biological Weapon

Why this disaster

Circumstances – under which

it might occur

Disaster we

will be facing

“ Chikungunya in Mkonde

language means that which bends

up ”

“ The first reported case of Chikungunya

dates back to 1779 ”

• Since its first outbreak in 1952, there still doesn’t exist any specific treatment for Chikungunya.

• Suddenly since 2005, there has been a speedy rise on the outbreak of this virus making it an epidemic.

• In 2011, there has already been a outbreak in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Congo.

• Research has already been conducted as an agent for a biological weapon.

Actual problem history

The disease was first described by Marion Robinson and W.H.R. Lumsden in 1955, following an outbreak in 1952 on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Mozambique and Tanganyika (the mainland part of modern day Tanzania).

India, Thailand, Sychelles, Maurititus, Madagascar, Reunion Islands, Italy and large parts of Africa have experience the outbreak

In 2005, at least 110,000 people were infect in the French Reunion Island itself. and about 1722 cases were reported

Circumstances – under which

it might occur

Prevention

• There are no specific treatments for Chikungunya. There is NO VACCINE currently available.

• Therefore alternative techniques need to be applied to keep it at bay.

• Avoiding contact with disease carrying mosquitoes.

• Mosquito control using various repellents like DEET, icaridin and PMD.

• Using Eucalyptus Oil.

• Wearing bite-proof long sleeves and trousers (pants) also offers protection.

• Garments can be treated with pyrethroids, a insecticide having the qualities of repellents.

• Securing screens on windows and doors will help to keep mosquitoes out of the house

• Using mosquito nets

• Regular cleaning water tanks, surrounding areas and the drains.

The Plan • Launching of various educational

programs which talk about the Chikungunya and its possible effects.

• This include the making of short films and animations which the people can remember easily.

• To ensure every household keeps there surrounding clean and maintains basic hygiene

• Making of ‘House Sanitizer Kit’ which includes Hand Sanitizer, mosquito repellent cream, eucalyptus oil and Insect sprays.

• Start a ‘Clean Neibhourhood’ drive where everyone cleans their own surroundings.

• Organize ‘Resource Pooling’ where people can join together and clean the stagnant water.

Solution - Feasibility

• The idea is very simple - easy to start – no frills – little investment

• It starts at the grassroot level • Possibility of a big ‘corporation’ to help

prepare the House Sanitizer Kit and making it available to everyone.

• Holistic Development. Why? – Shabby household conditions one of the prime reason

for the spread. – If proper houses are being made available to everyone

especially the lower classes of the society; the neighbourhood will be clean

– Launching of the Educational Programs will help them learn and prepare better

– Resource Pooling will ensure everyone works for a clean neighbourhood and for themselves. This should maintain communal harmony.

Solution - Relevance

• Most relevant in the 21st century, as Biological Weapons are seen as the most destructive measure.

• It can be injected in the environment which will lead to epidemics.

• Today our environment is also facing with a host of other problems leading to degradation –> the whole idea here is to have a clean surrounding and environment – >which will make it difficult for the virus to breed – >also clean environment will ensure that the levels of its degradation come down – >ALL ROUND DEVELOPMENT.

• Not only Africa, Asia, even Europe has seen the outbreak of this Epidemic and is soon spreading to other parts of the world.

• It is only important that we start cleaning up the Dirt right now or else it will be the foundation stone for a major disaster in the near future.

Solution -

Innovative

Goals and Targets

• Launch the whole mission in Phases.

• 1st Phase should be targeted towards the area which has

already seen the outbreak of this Epidemic -> the program

will help them prevent another one.

• 2nd Phase should be towards the High-risk zones where the

surroundings are unclean, inhumane conditions of living ->

Once the plan is activated there, it will see the seeds of

change and will improve in the overall conditions and have a

clean neighbourhood

• 3rd Phase is about joining hands with various NGOs to ensure

that everyone has access to basic housing facilities and that

they are not living in a shabby area – Resource Pooling comes

into play here.

• Continuous education about ‘Biological Weapons’ through

attractive pictures, short films and animation videos –

Educate -> Prevent.

• The target desired is to have a clean environment -> which

will make it difficult for any mosquito parasite to breed ->

thus no spread of Chikungunya -> overall development of the

living conditions and surroundings -> MISSION SUCCESSFUL

• People know about Biological Weapons

• Clean surrounding and environment

• New method of education through films and animation

• Basic hygiene is ensured • Good Housing Conditions are available

• Everyone works together -> thrive to achieve Communal Harmony

Why will it work? Very easy to launch and

propagate. Concentrate more on Micro

projects since the results are faster -> which will lead to macro development.

Space for Corporates and NGOs to join hands keeping their and society’s interests in mind.

Since there is hardly any investment, people can start their own ‘Mission NO-Chikungunya’ by cleaning up their neighbourhood.

It starts at ‘Ground Zero’ which enables everyone to take part and reap the benefits.

No Frills Project.

Positive Impact

References

http://globaldisasterwatch.glogspot.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya_outbreaks

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_02_17a/en/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4674376.stm