Chikungunya virus. Have you heard of it?

A new mosquito-borne illness has surfaced in the United States, which causes painful symptoms and has many people on high alert. The disease, native to sub-Saharan Africa is raging in the Caribbean and is being carried back to the US by travelers.

Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The virus, first described in 1952, is believed to have originated in Tanzania in southeast Africa. It has since spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and islands of the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

In 2013, health experts identified the first cases in the Caribbean and determined that local mosquitos were carrying the disease. The virus is widespread, with up to 17 different countries in the Caribbean reporting cases of the disease.

Symptoms of chikungunya virus

The name “Chikungunya” is derived from a southeast African word in the Kimakonde language which means “to become contorted” and describes the stooped appearance of joint pain sufferers. Symptoms start four to eight days after the mosquito bite (range from two to 12 days). Symptoms typically resolve within a week, although some people may experience long-term joint pain.

Chikungunya, also known as CHIKV, is generally not fatal, but the painful symptoms have led people to say “It won’t kill you, but it may make you wish you were dead!”

Typical symptoms of chikungunya infection include:

• Severe joint pains (especially in the hands and feet)

• Fever

• Headaches

• Muscle pain

• Rash

• Joint swelling

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 new chikungunya virus disease cases have been reported in the U.S. as of September 5, 2019. To date, no locally-transmitted cases have been reported in the U.S. All reported cases occurred in people who recently traveled to an affected area.

How you can help prevent the spread of chikungunya and other mosquito-borne Illnesses

Chikungunya, West Nile virus, and other public health threats have become an issue across the United States in recent years. Citizens are asking what they can do to protect themselves, even in their own backyards.

Contact a local Pest Management Professional, who can help reduce your exposure to mosquito bites by inspecting properties for breeding sites and treating when necessary.

What Can You Do At Home

• Eliminate or reduce mosquito-breeding areas by replacing all standing water at least once per week. This includes birdbaths, ponds and unfiltered pools.

• Remove unneeded vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be changed, dumped or removed.

• Introduce mosquito-eating fish such as gambusia, green sunfish, bluefish and minnows to standing water.

• Seal and screen all windows, doors, and other openings.

• Avoid going outdoors when and where mosquitoes are most active: during dusk or dawn.

• Use insect repellent on exposed skin whenever or wherever mosquitoes are likely to bite. The most effective repellents currently available contain the active ingredient DEET in concentrations up to about 35% (greater concentrations don’t offer better protection).

• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long-legged pants preferably treated with repellant as well.

To fight back against disease-carrying mosquitoes, partner with Ehrlich Pest Control today. Give us a call at 888 984 0186.