Along with the annoying itch that remains after a mosquito bite, there's also the possibility that you might have been infected with an illness. Most people are aware of malaria and dengue, but there's another mosquito-borne virus that you should be on the alert for. It's called chikungunya.It may be difficult to pronounce, but it's becoming a more familiar term as more and more people are infected with it
Chikungunya distribution
Prior to 2013, this disease was confined to Africa, Asia, and Europe, but starting in late 2013 the first cases of local transmission in the Americas were reported. (Local transmission means that a person was infected with the virus in that place, and didn't get it somewhere else and then travel there.) Since that time, chikungunya has spread: there have been cases of the illness in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and in the United States.What is chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted to people by mosquito bites. You can only get this illness from a mosquito, it cannot be transmitted from person to person. Two species of mosquitoes may carry the virus: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes are particularly active in the early morning and evening hours, but they can also bite during the day.
It only takes one bite to get infected.
The
word “chikungunya” comes from a word in the Kimakonde language of
Tanzania, where the virus was first identified in the 1950s. The word
means “to be bent over”, and describes the stooped appearance of people
who get this illness: the joint pain often causes them to double over.Symptoms of chikungunya
The symptoms of chikungunya usually appear between three and seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are sudden onset of joint pain and fever. Some infected people also suffer from headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rashes.The symptoms are very similar to those of dengue, and the two illnesses can be difficult to tell apart.The good news is that most cases of chikungunya clear up within about a week and complications are rare. Babies, the elderly, and people with health issues such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease are at greater risk for complications. Some people suffer from continuing joint pain for several months after being infected, particularly those with a weakened immune system.
Chikungunya treatment
There is no special medication or treatment available for chikungunya. The symptoms are treated with bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking acetominophen, ibuprophen or paracetamol to relieve fever and pain.How to avoid chikungunya
As is the case with dengue, there is no vaccine against chikungunya. Your best bet is prevention: avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Wear clothing that covers you when you're in areas where there are mosquitoes, use repellent, and keep mosquitoes outside by using air-conditioning or having screens over the windows. A mosquito net over your bed can also be helpful.Read more about how to stay safe and healthy on your vacation to Mexico.
EmoticonEmoticon