CDC updates travel notice: Chikungunya in the Caribbean
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the notice for travelers to the Caribbean, particularly the islands of St. Martin, Martinique and others in the French Caribbean as the number of chikungunya cases continue to rise in the region, according to a updated travel notice dated Jan. 7.
The federal health agency reports that as of January 2, 2014, the following Caribbean islands have reported cases of chikungunya:
- Saint Martin (French): 98 confirmed cases
- Sint Maarten (Dutch): 1 confirmed case
- Martinique: 13 confirmed cases; 1 case was also found in a person in French Guiana who had recently traveled from Martinique
- Guadeloupe: 3 confirmed cases, including 1 case in a person who had recently traveled from Saint Martin
- Saint Barthelemy: 7 confirmed cases
Travelers who go to these islands in the Caribbean are at risk of getting chikungunya. In addition, travelers to Africa, Asia, and islands in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific are also at risk, as the virus is present in many of these areas.
Image/CIA
The virus is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue. These mosquitoes can be found biting throughout daylight hours, though there may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon. Both species are found biting outdoors, but Ae. aegypti will also readily feed indoors.
The CDC notes that there is currently no vaccine or medicine to prevent chikungunya. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. This includes covering exposed skin, using appropriate insect repellent, for example products that contain DEET, staying and sleeping in screened or air conditioned rooms and using a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.
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About the Author
Robert Herriman – Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He regularly writes about infectious disease news for Examiner.com and administers the Outbreak News section of The Global Dispatch.
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