Chikungunya (chik-en-GUN-ye), is an illness caused by a virus that spreads through mosquito bites. The virus has been rapidly spreading across the Caribbean.
Here are the 10 things I know about the Chikungunya virus;
1)….Chikungunya virus is rarely fatal. Infected people typically suffer fever, severe joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, headaches, or rash. Patients usually recover in about a week, although some people suffer long-term joint pain.
2)…..There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the Chikungunya virus.
3)…..This virus is not spread person to person, but rather by the bite of certain mosquitoes
4)…..The only way to prevent catching the virus is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes
5)…..The mosquito that carries chikungunya virus can bite during the day and night, both indoors and outdoors, and often lives around buildings in urban areas.
6)…..You can catch the virus from a SINGLE mosquito bite
7)… In order for the virus to be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected mosquito, they must be bitten within the first week of illness
8)…..People who have arthritis , or those with serious medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes), or older than 65 and women who are late in their pregnancies are likely to catch the virus
9)….It is important to consult local health authorities for advice, please do not follow the advice of non-medical sources
10)..You don’t have to be able to spell Chikungunya to take it serious
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