Anguilla records four new chikungunya cases
The British territory just north of the chikungunya epicenter in the Caribbean, St. Martin, has recorded four additional cases of the mosquito borne virus, according to an Anguilla News report Tuesday.
This brings the number of confirmed cases on the island to five, including the one imported case reported last week.
Image/CIA
The Ministry is urging anyone experiencing any signs and symptoms for chikungunga fever to see a doctor. In addition, they continue to work in collaboration with the relevant agencies to ensure the appropriate preventative measures are implemented to reduce and contain the spread of the virus to include mosquito fogging, educating the public in taking personal responsibility to protect themselves against mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) Fact Sheet, Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain.Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor forchikungunya.
The disease occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades mosquito vectors ofchikungunya have spread to Europe and the Americas. In 2007, disease transmission was reported for the first time in Europe, in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy.
The CDC notes there is currently no vaccine or medicine to prevent chikungunya. People can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites.
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