International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 5 7 2016 07 10 Chikungunya is Declining in West Bengal, India- A Retrospective study (2010-2014) 60 67 EN S.R.* Sarmah 1 Mycology and Microbiology Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat 785008, Assam, India P. Dutta 2 Mycology and Microbiology Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat 785008, Assam, India P.N. Bhattacharyya 3 Mycology and Microbiology Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat 785008, Assam, India B. Payeng 4 Mycology and Microbiology Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat 785008, Assam, India A.J. Tanti 5 Mycology and Microbiology Department, Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI), Tea Research Association (TRA), Jorhat 785008, Assam, India Trune Pao Ngakhainii 1 Department of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, Meghalaya, India Krishna Upadhaya 2 Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, Meghalaya, India Mir Aabid Hussain 3 Department of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, Meghalaya, India Dinesh M.D.1* 1 Department of Microbiology, Pazhassiraja College, Pulpally, Wayanad, Kerala, India Prasanta Nanda 1 Department of Zoology, D.N. Government College, Itanagar, Arunachalpradesh, India-791113 Shyam K.* Pun 1 Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal Mahendra Maharjan 2 Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal Koushik Dutta* 1 Department of Environmental Science, Sambhu Nath College, Labpur, Birbhum, W.B., India Apurba Ratan Ghosh 2 Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, W.B., India Anup Kumar Sarkar 1 Department of Botany, Prasanna Deb Women’s College, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal-735101, India Tanuja Khatun 1 Tanuja Khatun- ICMR virus Unit Kolkata-700 010, West Bengal, India Anindya Sundar Panja 2 Anindya Sundar Panja-Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India Rajendra Prasad Chatterjee 3 Rajendra Prasad Chatterjee- ICMR virus Unit Kolkata-700 010, West Bengal, India Shyamalendu Chatterjee* 4 Shyamalendu Chatterjee- ICMR virus Unit Kolkata-700 010, West Bengal, India > Research Paper 2016 6 15 2016 07 10 Re-emergence of Chikungunya virus in West Bengal was detected almost after 40 years when an outbreak of fever occurred in Baduria village (West Bengal, India) in October 2006. After its re-emergence, Chikungunya virus infection/Chikungunya fever unexpectedly spread in the form of devastating epidemics all over the West Bengal which was associated with high fever, crippling joint pain and debilitating arthritic by joint pain that may last for a long time after resolution of infection. Blood samples from clinically Chikungunya suspected cases are routinely referred to the ICMR Virus Unit Kolkata for the diagnosis of Chikungunya infection as it is an Apex Referral Laboratory of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme {NVBDCP}, Delhi for the detection of Chikungunya in the Eastern part of India. Here we report the activity of Chikungunya from the year 2010-2014. During this period a total of 3573 samples were received from different medical colleges and hospitals of West Bengal. Based on serological study, only 934 (26.14%) samples were positive to Chikungunya IgM antibody by ELISA method. Rest of the 2639 samples were screened and only 755 Chikungunya IgM negative acute samples having & Copyright@ International Science Community Association 8804; 4days of illness were subjected to RNA extraction RT-PCR test followed by gel electrophoresis for molecular detection. Only 83 samples (10.71%) produced prominent band at par with the control strain i.e; 354bp. In the years 2014 RT-PCR test could not detect the Chikungunya specific RNA. Slightly higher percentile positivity was observed amongst the females than males. All most all the age groups were affected. Age group specific attack rate was variable. Even then highest attack rate was observed in the adult age group mainly 31-40 followed by age group of 21-30 41-50 51+ 11-20 and 0-10 in the every year. It was observed that incidence of Chikungunya infection were much less than it was observed since its re emergence. This study established that the activity of Chikungunya virus in West Bengal is in a declining phase.