western hemisphere became real when the much dreaded Chikungunya virus was
detected in some parts. The mosquito borne virus was detected in Caribbean
meridian sending most health experts into confusion and panic. This is a
pathogen that is known to be very notorious for its outbreaks that are usually
explosive. One of the symptoms associated with the infection is debilitating
joint pain. It is estimated that since the virus arrived in Saint Martin Island
of the Caribbean in early December 2013, over two hundred people have already
been infected through the native mosquitoes.
Chikungunya, which is a multisyllabic virus, belongs to the
new crop of arthropod transmitted viruses that are under great watch by medical
and health experts because of the danger that they pose to the general
population. Many professionals have been studying the virus with an aim of
coming up with the most efficient way of containing it. Before it finally made
its way to the Americas, Chikungunya virus had been noticed in the southern parts of
Tanzania in as early as 1950. It also is notorious in other African countries
including the Congo, Mozambique and Rwanda where it has been given several
unique names that simply refer to joint pain.
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When a person is infected with Chikungunya through the bite
of an infected mosquito, they experience an acute throbbing pain especially in
the joints and bones. They also get a fever that is accompanied by a rash and
some muscle pains. It always is more intense in the joints around the fingers
and the wrists. The elbows and knees can also be affected and if it goes on,
then the victim will may be disabled for some time as walking will almost be
impossible. The worst part is that it can last for months or even years
depending on the levels of infection and the way that it is handled.
The fact that the clinical presentation of Chikungunya virus resembles that of dengue
infection which is known to lend itself to some false diagnoses is an
indication that it requires specific tactics to handle it. There are no
specific medications that can be used to treat this infection and so, the only
thing that medical experts do to contain it is to alleviate the symptoms. There
however some hope since according to previous incidences, the virus is only
kills one in a thousand people infected.
In the past, Chikungunya virus has caused outbreaks in Africa, Asia and Europe
having made its way through about forty countries. Although for many years
people believed that Chikungunya was an African problem, there is no doubt that
it is spreading fast to even areas where people never imagined it would be
found. Initially, its spread was more eastward spreading towards India and
other countries in the region where it infected more than two million people in
just two years. Some of the countries affected in this region include Thailand,
Myanmar Maldives and Indonesia.
That is when the spread became viral with the next incidences reported in parts
of France and Italy. It was reported that it was mainly detected in travelers
who were returning to this area from Asia and particularly India. It was a
shock to health experts in Europe who had thought that tropical viruses can
never affected people who live in other parts and especially Europe. The
transmission in Italy and parts of France is what shed some light on the
dissemination potential and threw.
This points out why experts are troubled with the Caribbean
penetration of Chikungunya virus. In fact, it is one of the biggest outbreaks that
have ever been seen. The European center for Disease Prevention and Control has
already warned that there is a likelihood of the virus moving into the other
islands in the Caribbean and not just Saint Martin. Even as they say this, the
cases have already been reported in Saint Bethany and Martinique islands. It is
said that the region has an effective vector and population is still too naïve
and so, they are likely to experience more outbreaks. There are usually
movements if people between the islands that make up the area and this are the
more reason why health experts are convinced that the spread of the virus is
almost inevitable.
What many people are wondering about is what could be the next destination for Chikungunya.
A closer look at the world map distribution of the virus reveals that it is
difficult to be certain about where the next threat will be directed. What
makes it even worse is the fact that the world distribution of the mosquito
species called Aedes Albopitcus is a tricky one ranging from the western parts
of Africa to southeastern Asia. The evolution lineages of the virus are also
wide spread.
What is without doubt is the fact that the relentless outbreaks of Chikungunya
and the way that it is known to adapt to evolution cycles and the areas where it
is detected is something that makes it hard to fight the virus. Even as more
efforts are made to curb the spread of the mosquitoes, there is no doubt that
its well known propensity for globe-trotting make everything too difficult. The
Saint Martin outbreak is a clear indication that more efforts need to be made
so as to curb the spread of the virus and also educate the population on how to
ensure that they do not get affected.
The pattern has been recurring all the time whenever the
virus is detected in new territories. Other similar viruses from tropical
origins have been detected in the United States in the past and this is the
reason why there are fears that the virus could also make its way there. This
is to add to the fact that many people from the US spend lots of their time in
the Caribbean including the Saint Martin Island. All these are indications that
Chikungunya virus is establishing a strong presence in the western hemisphere
and will soon be here in the United States.