The virus has been island hopping and leaving a trail of sickness wherever it has turned up and now the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is saying that there are 55 000 suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya in the Caribbean.
Chikungunya has first been recorded in Africa in the 1950s and is more widely known in Asia and Africa. Caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that causes dengue fever, chickungunya was detected in the French island of St. Martin approximately five months ago.
“The situation on the ground is believed to be much worse than the figures presented”, said officials from the St. Lucia Ministry of Health.
“Some persons with chikungunya have opted to use home remedies like bush medicine, rather than reporting their condition to a doctor or health clinic,” said Epidemiologist Neham Jn Baptiste
Since the virus was first detected, it has moved from island to island with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) saying that it was of epidemic proportions for the region and that surveillance and prevention ought to be stepped up. The islands have been responding with more fogging and public awareness campaigns along with surveillance and eradication of breeding sites.
Jn Baptiste said that cases are likely to increase with the arrival of the rainy season.
While not fatal, chickungunya is a devastating illness which causes high fever, rash, “bone crushing” joint pains, muscle weakness and other symptoms, some of which may last for more than ten days. In some cases joint pain is reported to last up to as many as two years.
Baptiste warned that the circulation of chikungunya and dengue could pose as a major public health threat, he warned.
The virus is more common in women.
