Chikungunya (CHIKV) outbreak in region not slowing down...The outbreak, which began last December, has caused an estimated 795,000 chikungunya cases in 37 countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere

Monday, November 10, 2014    

ATLANTA, United Stated (CMC) — The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the  outbreak in Caribbean and Central and South American countries continues to spread with no sign of slowing down.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the chikungunya
virus. The Caribbean Public Health Agency says that as of
 October 27, 23 of its 24 member states had reported cases
of the virus. The West African country is among the hardest
hit by the deadly Ebola virus, which the Caribbean Community
is intent on keeping at bay.

According to the CDC, "the painful mosquito-borne disease will likely continue to infect travellers to the region during the rest of this year and beyond".

The outbreak, which began last December, has caused an estimated 795,000 chikungunya cases in 37 countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere as of the end of October, said CDC in its latest update.

It said more than 1,600 travellers returning to the United States with chikungunya have been reported, as of November 4.

Before this outbreak, the CDC said an average of 28 travellers with chikungunya fever returned to the United States each year. It estimates that about nine million people travel between the United States and Caribbean each year.

"During fall and winter, people in the United States might not be thinking about mosquitoes as a risk for diseases. So those who will be visiting the Caribbean or Central or South America should be aware of the risk of chikungunya in these areas this fall and winter and remember their insect repellent and other tips for staying safe," it said in a statement. more