Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus – Now In The US

According to United States federal health officials, the first case of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya Virus has been diagnosed in the United States. A Florida man is the first person in the US to be diagnosed with the painful, but usually non-fatal condition. The virus, which can be transmitted through bites from 2 different types of mosquitoes, which experts say tend to be more active during the day (unlike the mosquitoes that tend to carry the West Nile Virus and be more active at night).

While most common in the southern US states, the mosquitoes carrying the Chikungunya Virus have been found all the way up East Coast and Mid-Atlantic States, as well as the lower Midwest, according to CDC officials. As such, everyone should take precautions to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus…which officials also say has no current treatments or cures!

While officials say that the virus is seldom fatal, it is a rather painful condition and all doctors can do is treat the symptoms and wait for the illness to pass on its own, which they say usually takes about one week or so.

Symptoms of the Chikungunya Virus:

-- High fevers

-- Joint pain

-- Swelling

-- Headaches

-- Rashes

Protecting Yourself and Your Family:

-- Don’t leave standing water sitting around the home or yard… mosquitoes love to breed in standing water!

-- Always wear insect repellent when going outdoors

-- Follow the instructions on the repellent’s label and reapply as necessary for optimal protection

-- Wear long pants and sleeves whenever possible

-- Try not to wear heavily scented shampoos or perfumes, which can attract the bugs

-- Make sure window screens don’t have holes in them or gaps on the sides that can let the bugs in the house/car/etc.

Source:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_147380.html