Bujibuji Simba Nyamaume
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- Feb 4, 2009
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Global Issue: Chikungunya in The Caribbean
In Brief
Cases of chikungunya were first reported in the region in December 2013 and have since spread widely. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, severe joint pains, headache and rash. There is no vaccine. Preventing mosquito bites is the only way to prevent infection.
Advice
Prevent mosquito bites
Locally acquired cases of chikungunya were first detected in the Caribbean in December 2013 in the French island of St. Martin. The mosquito-borne virus has since spread to affect a number of islands and nations which border the Caribbean. Some countries are experiencing large outbreaks with hundreds of cases. These include Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Saint Martin.
Other locations that have less intense activity include Anguilla, Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. Across the region, more than 750,000 people have been infected and at least 140 have died from the disease.
Health officials within the region have stepped up measures to identify and control the spread of infection. People have been advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. It is highly likely that the virus will remain in circulation in the Caribbean.
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted via mosquito bites. Where the disease is known to occur, infections are usually common during the rainy season. It cannot pass from person to person. The first symptom is usually a sudden onset of fever. Severe joint pain is one of the disease's main symptoms - chikungunya is Swahili for "that which contorts or bends up". Headache and rash are also common. Symptoms are similar to dengue, and laboratory testing is required to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for chikungunya and it is rarely fatal. Patients are usually instructed to rest. Recovery often takes several weeks. The associated joint pain can last for several months, or even years and patients may be more susceptible to other diseases.
For more information:
TAHADHARI:-
Huu ugonjwa unaenea kwa kasi sana, na muda si mrefu utasikika AFRICA
In Brief
Cases of chikungunya were first reported in the region in December 2013 and have since spread widely. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, severe joint pains, headache and rash. There is no vaccine. Preventing mosquito bites is the only way to prevent infection.
Advice
Prevent mosquito bites
- When outdoors wear clothing that covers most of your body (long sleeves, long pants, socks).
- Use an effective insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, PMD, or IR3535.
- Ensure windows are covered with fly-wire. Use "knock-down" insect spray to kill mosquitoes in your room.
- Choose air conditioned accommodation if possible.
- Seek medical attention if you develop a high fever and joint pains.
Locally acquired cases of chikungunya were first detected in the Caribbean in December 2013 in the French island of St. Martin. The mosquito-borne virus has since spread to affect a number of islands and nations which border the Caribbean. Some countries are experiencing large outbreaks with hundreds of cases. These include Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Saint Martin.
Other locations that have less intense activity include Anguilla, Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. Across the region, more than 750,000 people have been infected and at least 140 have died from the disease.
Health officials within the region have stepped up measures to identify and control the spread of infection. People have been advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. It is highly likely that the virus will remain in circulation in the Caribbean.
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted via mosquito bites. Where the disease is known to occur, infections are usually common during the rainy season. It cannot pass from person to person. The first symptom is usually a sudden onset of fever. Severe joint pain is one of the disease's main symptoms - chikungunya is Swahili for "that which contorts or bends up". Headache and rash are also common. Symptoms are similar to dengue, and laboratory testing is required to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for chikungunya and it is rarely fatal. Patients are usually instructed to rest. Recovery often takes several weeks. The associated joint pain can last for several months, or even years and patients may be more susceptible to other diseases.
For more information:
- See "Chikungunya" in the "Diseases and Prevention" dropdown and the Travel Advice Articles "Preventing Mosquito Bites" and "Using Insect Repellents Safely" on the International SOS Country Guides
- Contact any International SOS assistance centre
TAHADHARI:-
Huu ugonjwa unaenea kwa kasi sana, na muda si mrefu utasikika AFRICA