An outbreak of a mosquito-borne disease in Kampong Speu province’s Kong Pisei district has caused 69 people to fall seriously ill over the past two weeks, local officials said yesterday.

Nob Sok, Kong Pisei district’s Pich Mony commune chief, said yesterday that villagers were sent to the district health center after complaining of faintness.

“The patients’ legs and arms became numb, and small red dots appeared on their bodies.

They also experienced vomiting, diarrhea and fever,” he said.

Affected villagers had recovered and returned home after receiving treatment, he added.

Ly Sovann, deputy director of communicable diseases control department of Health Ministry, identified the virus as the Chikungunya virus, transmitted by the “red-legged” mosquito.

It was commonly seen in the rural areas and was not life-threatening, he said.