Rapid spread of painful virus, new to Caribbean--now in Houston

Ambrosia

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http://bigstory.ap.org/article/painful-and-rapid-spread-new-virus-caribbean

Although the chikungunya virus was first identified in Africa in 1953, it has been limited to the Eastern Hemisphere. In December, the first locally transmitted case was documented in French St. Martin.

The virus causes headache, fever, and debilitating joint pain.

Since December, 55,000 cases of the virus have been either suspected or confirmed in the islands. It has also reached the South American Mainland.

One thing is certain: The virus has found fertile ground in the Caribbean. The Pan American Health Organization reports more than 55,000 suspected and confirmed cases since December throughout the islands. It has also reached French Guiana, the first confirmed transmission on the South American mainland.

The Pan American Health Organization says seven people in the Caribbean with chikungunya have died during the outbreak but they had underlying health issues that likely contributed to their death.

"It's building up like a snowball because of the constant movement of people," said Jacqueline Medina, a specialist at the Instituto Technologico university in the Dominican Republic, where some hospitals report more than 100 new cases per day.
It is spread by two types of mosquitoes, which are in abundance in the Caribbean. Those two types of mosquitoes are also found in the southern and eastern U.S. and health officials believe it is just a matter of time before the virus spreads to the U.S. via travel.

Authorities are attempting to control mosquitoes throughout the Caribbean, from dense urban neighborhoods to beach resorts. There have been no confirmed cases of local transmission of chikungunya on the U.S. mainland, but experts say the high number of travelers to the region means that could change as early as this summer.
 
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Ambrosia

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Chikungunya virus has surfaced in the US in several states

TAMPA Fla. (Reuters) - A painful, mosquito-borne viral illness has surfaced across the United States, carried by recent travelers to the Caribbean where the virus is raging.

Health officials in North Carolina, Nebraska and Indiana this week reported the first confirmed chikungunya cases in those states, along with Tennessee, which has suspected cases.
Florida currently has the most cases, at 25, however several states have cases they are monitoring.

Along with new reports, the CDC is monitoring chikungunya in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
So, in less than a month since I first posted this threat, the virus has spread to the U.S., via travel, into 13 states and two territories. And the U.S. Virgin Islands reported its first locally transmitted case on Wednesday. An infectious disease specialist in Tennessee says it will be more difficult for the virus to establish itself here. The previous report I quoted in the OP said the two types of mosquitoes that carry the disease are found in the southern and eastern U.S. so, as I scratch the mosquito bite I just got outside trimming trees, I wonder how difficult can it possibly be? Theoretically, it could start up with just one infected person being bit by a mosquito once they get back to the U.S. and that mosquito going for its second meal to a new person. And then it starts. It is spring in the U.S. and the mosquitoes here in Upstate NY are already bad this year. As quickly as it spreads, it could hit the U.S. hard. Luckily, although it is debilitating it is rarely fatal.

More states report cases of chikungunya virus
 

blacbird

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The Caribbean region is particularly susceptible to airborne dust blown from the Sahara region across the Atlantic. It is well-known to cause serious asthma problems there, especially among children. Not too much of a stretch to imagine mosquitoes being carried aloft from Africa in a similar way.

caw
 

Plot Device

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The threat of disease, and the ease of its spread via such vectors as mosquitos, is one of several reasons why I prefer to live in colder, northern climates. If a REAL pandemic of whatever-or-other virus were to hit the USA one day, I'm taking bets that the warmer US states would succumb more easily. Northern climates are by no means immune. But a good cold winter is an excellent way to stop some pathogens in their tracks.
 

Ambrosia

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I hope that is the case with this virus, Plot Device. I hadn't thought there would be a case of it in New York like there is and although that is due to a person traveling to the Caribbean and bringing it back, a lot of suffering can happen between now and the first killing frost if it gets a foothold in a northern state.
 

Ambrosia

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Mosquito pool in Harris County, TX positive for virus

The first confirmed mosquito in Harris County, TX containing the Chikungunya virus has been confirmed.

This is the mosquito carrying the virus. There was no mention of anyone coming down with virus in that county yet.


Mosquito pool in Harris County, TX tests positive for chikungunya virus (Video work safe)
 

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The threat of disease, and the ease of its spread via such vectors as mosquitos, is one of several reasons why I prefer to live in colder, northern climates. If a REAL pandemic of whatever-or-other virus were to hit the USA one day, I'm taking bets that the warmer US states would succumb more easily. Northern climates are by no means immune. But a good cold winter is an excellent way to stop some pathogens in their tracks.
That's true for pathogens that are spread by climate-dependent insect vectors. But viruses spread without an insect vector are disseminated more rapidly in colder temperatures and low humidity, as people congregate in indoor heated venues, and respiratory viruses tend to cluster and co-spread (e.g. flu + SARS).
 

Beachgirl

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We've had two confirmed cases in our area (Sarasota & Manatee Counties, Florida). I'm stocked up on DEET.
 

Don

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We've had two confirmed cases in our area (Sarasota & Manatee Counties, Florida). I'm stocked up on DEET.
Thanks for the heads-up. Guess we'll stay over here in Highlands and away from the beach for a while. :)