Chikungunya Communication Toolkit 2008

Following an outbreak of Chikungunya Fever in the area of Ravenna, Italy in Summer 2007 and the increasing presence of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Europe, ECDC has prepared a Chikungunya Communications Toolkit.  The Chikungunya Communications Toolkit provides template materials containing background information and practical advice on Chikungunya prevention and control.  The template materials are targeted at 3 key audiences: the general public in affected areas, visitors travelling to affected areas and health practitioners.  Communicators in the Member States can adapt these materials, which include factsheets, brochures, posters and presentations, for use at national level This toolkit offers basic tools aimed at providing key audiences with information on Chikungunya so they can play an active role in preventing the spread of Chikungunya fever in Europe. This toolkit contains draft materials and suggested key messages for the target audiences as well as suggested tactics for getting the messages across to different audiences. This information will aid the target audiences to develop an understanding of Chikungunya fever, how it is spread, what to do in case of infection and how to limit the spread of the vector.