CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS CASES CONTINUE TO RISE

Winter time is here even though Las Vegas is warm compared to other parts of the country - many people from Summerlin and Henderson take a winter vacation in the Caribbean or Florida.

According to the CDC, in Puerto Rico there have been 10,000 reported cases of the painful, mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus since the first case occurred there in May 2014. Additionally, there have been 11 locally-acquired cases of the virus in Florida.

Chikungunya is transmitted by a particularly aggressive mosquito – it origins of the virus were previously confined to Asia but now has entered the Western Hemisphere.

The virus causes severe joint and muscle pain and can result in arthritis-like joint pain that lasts for months. Chikungunya has sickened more than 776,000 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. More than 1,100 cases have been brought in to the U.S. by travelers

Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling. Most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.

There is no specific treatment for the illness. If you are traveling to the Caribbean it is suggested to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and use DEET.

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