Chikungunya is an emerging, vector-borne (mosquito) disease with high prevalence in South-East Asia, South and East Africa and in South Asia. Although, the doesn’t kill, the high morbidity rates and prolonged polyarthritis leads to considerable disability and depression to the patients and their families.
Chikungunya virus, belongs to the family of viruses called Togaviridae, which are viruses that are mostly transmitted by arthropods. The name Chikungunya derives from a root verb in the Kimakonde language meaning “that whichbends up”, or rather, to become contorted. The different geographical genotypes exhibit differences in theirtransmission methods : in Asia the virus is transmitted in an urbanhuman-mosquito-human transmission cycle with Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictuswhile the virus transmission in Africa involves a sylvaticcycle, with Aedes furcifer, Aedes vittatus, fulgens, luteocephalus,
dalzieli, etc as the vectors.
It is said Prevention is better than cure, and it stands truly with Chulungunya as there are no vaccines currently present to cure this disease. So, you need to protect yourself from mosquito bites and prevent their breeding. Also, the mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya virus bite mostly during the daytime.
1. Use a mosquito net along with mosquito repellent while sleeping.
2. Screen windows and doors using mosquito screeners.
3. Use air conditioning and/or fans to prevent mosquitoes from biting you.
4. Never let water stagnate in or near your house. Empty flower-pot plates, water coolers and buckets. Always clean water drums that you store water in every 2-3 days.
5. Use long sleeved clothing.
6. You can also use home-made repellents to keep mosquitoes at bay.
7. Always keep your surroundings clean- never let garbage accumulate, especially old, rubber tyres, coconut shells, broken flower pots and other things that can accumulate water in it.
Signs & Symptoms:
• high fever
• severe joint pain mainly in the arms and legs
• headache
• muscle pain
• back pain
• rash (about 50% of affected people).
• Most people start to feel better after 7 to 10 days although some people will develop longer term joint pain.
Follow these instructions if you contract Chikungunya:
• During the first week of infection, virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then transmit the virus to other people.
• To prevent further spread of the virus, it is important for people to avoid mosquito bites during the first week of illness.
Stay alert, and follow cleanliness to avoid getting sick, And most importantly, do consult a doctor.
By: Archa Dave
