Wednesday, 25 December 2013 - 04:31
Sint Maarten is fighting against mosquito virus
Residents of the Caribbean island St. Martin are called upon to do everything in their power to prevent further spreading of the Chikungunya virus by mosquitos.So far ten residents in the French part of the island have been infected, and over eighty people are "possibly infected," according to local authorities.
Aedes-albopictus
James Gathany, CDC
Wikimedia commons The Dutch part of the island mostly want the mosquitos to stay out of their part of the island, although the French and the Dutch are making a combined effort in taking measures against the mosquitoes that spread the disease. One such measure is the intensive spraying of insecticides along the border with the French side of the island. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned nearly two weeks ago that the disease had surfaced on the French side of the island and tourists were at risk. Tourism is the backbone of the economy of the island. The island is a popular stop for cruise ships. Skift, an international company that focuses on news and data about travel, reported that the Tourism Bureau on St. Martin has indicated there is no need for tourists to avoid the island. Travels to the island are still safe, confirm both authorities. Chikungunya virus infection fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus can cause a debilitating illness, most often characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash, and joint pain. Acute chikungunya fever typically lasts a few days to a few weeks, but as with dengue, West Nile fever and other arboviral fevers, some patients have prolonged fatigue lasting several weeks. Additionally, some patients have reported incapacitating joint pain, or arthritis which may last for weeks or months.
James Gathany, CDC
Wikimedia commons The Dutch part of the island mostly want the mosquitos to stay out of their part of the island, although the French and the Dutch are making a combined effort in taking measures against the mosquitoes that spread the disease. One such measure is the intensive spraying of insecticides along the border with the French side of the island. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned nearly two weeks ago that the disease had surfaced on the French side of the island and tourists were at risk. Tourism is the backbone of the economy of the island. The island is a popular stop for cruise ships. Skift, an international company that focuses on news and data about travel, reported that the Tourism Bureau on St. Martin has indicated there is no need for tourists to avoid the island. Travels to the island are still safe, confirm both authorities. Chikungunya virus infection fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus can cause a debilitating illness, most often characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash, and joint pain. Acute chikungunya fever typically lasts a few days to a few weeks, but as with dengue, West Nile fever and other arboviral fevers, some patients have prolonged fatigue lasting several weeks. Additionally, some patients have reported incapacitating joint pain, or arthritis which may last for weeks or months.