Breaking: Barbados investigating 7 suspected cases of Chikungunya virus
From Caribbean360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday May 30, 2014, CMC – The Ministry of Health is investigating seven suspected cases of the Chikungunya virus
In a release on Friday, the Health Ministry said while there are no positive cases of the mosquito borne illness, samples taken from persons with symptoms of the disease were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing on Thursday and results are expected soon.
According to health officials, routine tests of any patient with symptoms of Chikungunya have been conducted since December 2013, when the disease was first reported in the Caribbean region.
On Friday there were reports of two suspected cases of Chikungunya in persons who had just returned from Dominica where medical officials have been dealing with a major outbreak.
Chikungunya, a virus more commonly found in Africa and Asia and transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito that causes the more deadly dengue fever, was first detected in the eastern Caribbean five months ago.
Since then, it has jumped from island to island, sending thousands of patients to the hospital with painful joints, pounding headaches and spiking fevers. Chikungunya is normally not deadly and symptoms begin to dissipate within a week.
CARPHA has described the chikungunya virus and dengue fever as “growing public health threats in the Caribbean”. The Agency says it will convene a special networking symposium focusing on these viruses on June 12.
For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/breaking-barbados-investigating-seven-suspected-cases-of-chikungunya-virus
Related story:
Are cruise ships vectoring chikungunya virus to Florida?
By Jim Walker From Cruise Law News
Today I received a comment from a Royal Caribbean passenger who said that he was infected with the dreaded chikungunya virus when he sailed to St. Martin last year on the Oasis of the Seas:
You might need a new cruise category “Disease” as the cruise industry has become a vector for spreading the Caribbean epidemic of Chikungunya Fever virus to Florida . . . I got infected during my Oasis trip to St Martin last Dec – this thing is horrible and can be catastrophic for older passengers – one major “coincidental” cause of increased death among these folks isn’t the virus … it is suicide.
He also referred me to an article on a local CBS station “Fourth Case Of Mosquito Borne Chikungunya Fever Confirmed In Florida.”
The disease is transmitted through infected mosquitos.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says:
“The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas on islands in the Caribbean. Chikungunya virus is not currently found in the United States (no longer true). There is a risk that the virus will be imported to new areas by infected travelers (now true). There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. When traveling to countries with chikungunya virus, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.”
We have been contacted in the last 6 months by many cruisers concerned about being infected. But this is the first time that someone has contacted us after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
There has been a good amount of chatter on the cruise fan pages about the virus and fears of contracting it while cruising to the Caribbean.
Some but not all cruise lines warn about the disease.
Do you know someone who has been infected during a cruise to the Caribbean? Does anyone know effective medical treatment to combat the symptoms? Please leave a comment below or join the discussion on our Facebook page.
See iNews Cayman story published May 28 2014 “Guyana confirms toddler, woman are first reported cases of chikungunya virus” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/guyana-confirms-toddler-woman-are-first-reported-cases-of-chikungunya-virus/
