The health ministry said symptoms of chikungunya are similar to other diseases like influenza and dengue, which are also now circulating.
The symptoms of Chikungunya include high fever, joint pain mainly in the hands, wrists and ankles, headache, muscle pain and a rash.
The health ministry said although Chikungunya does not often result in death, joint pains and stiffness can last for months, even years, with infants and the elderly at greater risk of more severe symptoms.
The director of emergency services in the ministry, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, said dengue, for example, has symptoms which may be mistaken for Chikungunya as it is also characterised by headache, fever, joint and muscle pains.
Up to August 23, there were 160 suspected cases of dengue fever, 13 confirmed by laboratory tests.
DuCasse said the ministry has recorded 85 suspected cases of Chikungunya but has only received 24 confirmations in St Thomas, St Catherine, St Ann, Kingston and St Andrew.
She said 15 samples are awaiting testing.
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