REUNION ISLAND - Madagascar hit by chikungunya virus

The BBC has another report on the outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus which has now begun to spread onto Madagascar itself.

Madagascar has recorded the first cases of a mosquito-borne disease that has caused havoc and is linked to 93 deaths on Reunion Island, to the east.

The African state did not release figures for the number of people affected by the chikungunya virus, but called it a sporadic outbreak.

The symptoms of chikungunya include high fever, dehydration and severe pain - and there is no known cure.

The crippling disease has afflicted 20% of Reunion Islanders in the past year.