OFFICIALS here are stepping up efforts to fight the spread of the chikungunya virus amid an increase in cases, according to a nationnews.com report.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud was quoted as saying yesterday that the health ministry is spraying the capital of Georgetown and other populated areas as he urged people to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds.
Guyana has registered more than 1,000 cases with several clinics reporting about 60 new cases a day.
Across the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)has recorded nearly 700,000 suspected and confirmed cases up to September 12. The bulk of those cases have been reported in the Dominican Republic.
The mosquito-borne virus causes fever and severe joint pain, but is rarely fatal. There is no vaccine, and it mainly is treated with pain medication.