Chikungunya has raised its head in certain parts of the country mainly due to inclement weather but there is no threat of an epidemic, Government Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Nihal Abeysingha said yesterday. "We have received information that there had been an increase of patients who get hospital treatment for symptoms similar to Chikungunya. But we cannot confirm these cases as Chikungunya without a laboratory test. However tests carried out so far have found 20 positive cases from various parts of the country,' Dr. Abeysingha told Daily Mirror yesterday. Patients with symptoms of Chikungunya from Godakawela, Erathna and Palugasbedda in Ratnapura District and Hataraliyadda in the Kandy District have been given treatment at hospitals. Though the symptoms are high fever, pain in the spinal cord, vomiting and severe headache are not always associated with Chikungunya, he said. The preventive measures have been taken to stall a possible outbreak but this disease has a tendency to raise its ugly head during the time of bad weather. The most effective way to keep Chikungunya away is to keep the environment clean and tidy and make sure there is no mosquito breeding places as Chikungunya is a vector borne disease Dr. Abeysingha said.