Chikungunya in the Caribbean

[CarinaPDX]

Anyone heard of Chikungunya Fever? It is a disease that is first cousin to Dengue Fever, has similar (painful) symptoms, lasts longer, but does not have a fatal form like hemorrhagic Dengue Fever. It arrived in the Carribean in December and is spreading among the islands, from Africa and Asia.

CDC report:Chikungunya in the Caribbean - Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions - Travel Health Notices | Travelers' Health | CDC

Just what the Caribbean needed...

Greg

[CarinaPDX]

BTW 3700 people have contracted it in the Caribbean since it was introduced just 2 months ago, and the outbreak has spread to 7 countries. Now that is fast...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/wo...bean.html?_r=0

Greg

[MarkJ]

I havent heard any cruiser who has got it yet.

Yes, got to keep the Deet spray up. And thats Deet, not the other stuff sold thats effectual for only a few minutes, or not at all. And if you think Eucalyptus oil is effective against mosquitos remember what trees it comes from... Like there's no mozzies in Australia?

Especially important is to keep a bottle when out so top up sparys can be done. I have a couple of very small, pocket size bottle.
Some of the bars here are terrible and the mozzies come up through the floor boards.

Other thing to be careful of, and this isnt meant to sound racist, but to be wary when in close proximity to locals. The feaver is pretty rife amounst them but not the cruisers or tourists as we are less exposed to groups of people. So if hanging out in crowds during the daytime spray well and good. Remember the mosquito that carries it operates during the day. It must suck blood from someone infected and then come and suck bolld for you thus transfering the virus. You can actually see the white bands of the mosquitos legs when they fly past... Bit its getting harder to see their legs at all as I get older!


Mark

[robert sailor]

When dengue fever was in a few of the islands in the S Pacific the health boards there asked people to take B1 thiamine tablets which we did. Apparently the bugs don't like the smell in your skin but I'm not sure if in fact it works.

[GordMay]

It is important to distinguish chikungunya virus infection from dengue due to severe clinical outcomes of dengue (including death). Both infections can exist simultaneously in the same patient. Compared with dengue, chikungunya virus infection causes pain that is more intense and localized in the joints and tendons, the onset of fever is more acute and shorter in duration, and shock or severe bleeding is rare.

➥ http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?opt...999999&lang=en

➥ Chikungunya in the Caribbean - Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions - Travel Health Notices | Travelers' Health | CDC

➥ http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/...ic_cleared.pdf

➥ CDC - Chikungunya fever