India is witnessing a significant increase in chikungunya cases; unique symptoms cause health professionals great concern. Though this is the third large chikungunya outbreak in the past ten years, doctors are detecting unique symptoms, including skin pigment around the nose, dengue-like rashes, changed taste, and a notable decline in platelet count. Experts advise that these atypical symptoms could point to a more aggressive form of the virus in circulation, therefore, compounding the matter.

Confounding specialists and doctors in Hyderabad and around India have noted patients suffering black tint around the nose. According to media reports, Senior Consultant Physician Dr. K. Shivaraju of KIMS Hospitals said, "We have seen these cases in great numbers across all age groups; we do not know why there is hyperpigmentation of the tip of the nose as well as the ears."

 "Also many chikungunya cases now feature very itchy maculopapular rashes on the face, hands, and legs," he added.

 Apart from the rashes and pigment, several patients are complaining of a loss or change in taste; a concerning proportion of cases also show a decline in platelets, a symptom more commonly linked with dengue. Dr. Shivaraju asserts that these cases may only be the beginning. "We've confirmed at least 100 positive cases; but, as many cases remain untested, the actual number might be three to four times higher," he said.

A novel chikungunya virus strain with more severe symptoms and quicker transmission has been identified in Nagpur by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. Hospitals are currently at capacity due to the high volume of patients suffering from chikungunya and dengue, two viral illnesses transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. There has been a significant strain on healthcare resources in Nagpur, with 2,873 dengue illnesses and 3,556 chikungunya cases recorded since January, according to data from the city.

Nagpur witnessed the outbreak of Chikungunya. Experts dispute the formal documentation of all incidents. "The disease is more severe this year, with patients suffering from joint pain resembling arthritis," claimed a Nagpur medical practitioner. "In some cases, patients are even suffering from heart diseases, as well as a notable drop in platelet count, sometimes as low as 43,000." In extremely rare cases, Chikungunya can cause encephalitis, which produces brain swelling.

The delayed identification in conventional tests such as IgM raises one of the main issues regarding the chikungunya diagnosis. Experts say the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) test provides speedier results, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment. A health official said, "RTPCR is proving to be a crucial tool in detecting chikungunya faster than other tests, helping doctors manage cases more effectively."