U.S. health officials are cautioning travelers about a mosquito-borne illness being transmitted in parts of Asia, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean.
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The virus, which is infecting people through bites from Aedes mosquitoes, has been spreading in China’s Guangdong province this summer. Health officials reported the area has seen over 7,000 confirmed cases since June.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this month issued a travel notice for the Guangdon province in China, encouraging travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The agency issued the same notices for other countries where outbreaks have been reported, including Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
The CDC is also asking U.S. residents to exercise caution when visiting the following countries, which have not yet reported an outbreak but are at elevated risk of exposure: Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5.6 billion people are at risk of arboviral diseases such as chikungunya. Other widespread arboviruses impacting humans include dengue, Zika and yellow fever.
What are the symptoms of chikungunya?
Symptoms of the disease include fever, joint pain and swelling, headache, muscle pain and rash, according to the CDC.
How long does infection last?
The illness typically lasts between two to 12 days after infection. Some patients can experience extreme symptoms and the virus can be fatal. Elderly people, newborns and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of medical see more....