Caribbean Virus Travel Alert!
By: Shellie WylieThe Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a level 1 Travel Alert for the Caribbean. The mosquito-Chikungunya Virus or Chik-V, is rapidly spreading through the Caribbean. Chik-V is transmitted by an Aedes mosquito bite.
The CDC as of their July 1 update stated that the virus is now present in 19 Caribbean countries. There are reports that the virus has shown up in the United States apparently from travelers recently returned from the Caribbean.
CDC.gov: The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Chikungunya disease rarely results in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling. Most people who get sick feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may last for months or years.
There is no vaccine or treatment for the Chik-V virus.It is important to note that this is a level 1 travel alert, meaning to take precautions to prevent exposure.It doesn’t mean you should immediately cancel your Caribbean travel plans. If you have an existing medical condition or are concerned, please speak with your doctor about any future travel plans.
The CDC has an excellent web page dedicated to the protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Highlights:
• Wear Long Sleeves if you can• Do not spray repellent on skin that will be under clothing• Use Repellent containing Deet or other recommended chemicals• Use Sunscreen first, then the repellent
The CDC does not have a recommended product listing but Consumer Reports has a list of products they tested with ratings from June 2014. Off, Cutter, 3M and Natrapel all had products they recommended for lasting effectiveness.Editorial: My advice is to add a good insect repellent to your packing list, and USE IT. We all should probably do that anyway. After doing the research for this little blog post, I am convinced that we don’t pay insect bites the amount of attention they warrant. Insects are the vector for several serious diseases.