Almost 200 Chikungunya Dengue Cases Now in the Caribbean, the United States Is Next
According the St Maarten Health Minister Dr. Cornelius de Weever, new Chikungunya outbreaks are now being reported in Dutch Sint Maarten. There are also reports in Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Martin.
On December 6th 2013, The World Health Organization was alerted that there had been two outbreaks of Chikugunya dengue in the rench part of St Martin. Although rench St Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten is connected, initially there were no reports or any signs of the virus in Sint Maarten. The first two cases were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test performed by the French National Reference Centre for arboviruses in Marseille.
Between October 12th and November 18th 2013, the first reports of the symptoms of the illness were reported, but remained undiagnosed as Chikungunya until the December 6th test.
The number of suspected cases in St Martin grew from 26 to 66 according to a Dec 28 briefing from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
On December 27th 2013, the first case of Chikungunya was reported in Saunders, Dutch St Maarten, reports of other outbreaks are now quickly spreading.
The St Martin strain of the Chikungunya virus, had already been reported in a tourist who had visited the island, and returned to the Americas, thus introducing the strain to The United States.
Health officials in the islands are now investigating a host of suspected cases. They include 167 suspected cases and 14 probable cases on the French side of St. Martin, and two patients have been hospitalized. Martinique has 27 suspected cases, and on the island of St. Barthelemy, 21 suspected cases are under investigation.
The outbreak represents the first known indigenous transmission of chikungunya fever in the Americas The ECDC said in its update that the outbreak underscores the recommendations it made earlier this month, urging health providers to heighten their vigilance against the disease, especially with increased travel during the holidays.
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is seldom fatal and is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of chikungunya include high fever and headache, with significant pains in the joints, (knees, elbows) which can persist for several weeks. The symptoms appear between 4 and 7 days after the patient has been bitten by an infected mosquito. The name, chikungunya derives from a word in Makonde language meaning €that which bends up€, reflecting the physique of a person suffering from the disease.
The health authorities on both the French and the Dutch side of the island are cooperating closely in response to this outbreak, in a closely coordinated plan with public health authorities in France and the Netherlands. Actions implemented by local authorities to-date include:
Epidemiological surveillance including syndromic surveillance and surveillance of severe cases.
Vector control activities have been implemented in the affected area and will rapidly be extended to the entire island, including around airports, schools, day nurseries, hospitals.
Communication and social mobilization: information is being disseminated to health professionals, to the public (on individual protection, how to eliminate the larvae breeding ground) and to the travelers by specific information in the airports.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.
On December 6th 2013, The World Health Organization was alerted that there had been two outbreaks of Chikugunya dengue in the rench part of St Martin. Although rench St Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten is connected, initially there were no reports or any signs of the virus in Sint Maarten. The first two cases were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test performed by the French National Reference Centre for arboviruses in Marseille.
Between October 12th and November 18th 2013, the first reports of the symptoms of the illness were reported, but remained undiagnosed as Chikungunya until the December 6th test.
The number of suspected cases in St Martin grew from 26 to 66 according to a Dec 28 briefing from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
On December 27th 2013, the first case of Chikungunya was reported in Saunders, Dutch St Maarten, reports of other outbreaks are now quickly spreading.
The St Martin strain of the Chikungunya virus, had already been reported in a tourist who had visited the island, and returned to the Americas, thus introducing the strain to The United States.
Health officials in the islands are now investigating a host of suspected cases. They include 167 suspected cases and 14 probable cases on the French side of St. Martin, and two patients have been hospitalized. Martinique has 27 suspected cases, and on the island of St. Barthelemy, 21 suspected cases are under investigation.
The outbreak represents the first known indigenous transmission of chikungunya fever in the Americas The ECDC said in its update that the outbreak underscores the recommendations it made earlier this month, urging health providers to heighten their vigilance against the disease, especially with increased travel during the holidays.
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is seldom fatal and is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of chikungunya include high fever and headache, with significant pains in the joints, (knees, elbows) which can persist for several weeks. The symptoms appear between 4 and 7 days after the patient has been bitten by an infected mosquito. The name, chikungunya derives from a word in Makonde language meaning €that which bends up€, reflecting the physique of a person suffering from the disease.
The health authorities on both the French and the Dutch side of the island are cooperating closely in response to this outbreak, in a closely coordinated plan with public health authorities in France and the Netherlands. Actions implemented by local authorities to-date include:
Epidemiological surveillance including syndromic surveillance and surveillance of severe cases.
Vector control activities have been implemented in the affected area and will rapidly be extended to the entire island, including around airports, schools, day nurseries, hospitals.
Communication and social mobilization: information is being disseminated to health professionals, to the public (on individual protection, how to eliminate the larvae breeding ground) and to the travelers by specific information in the airports.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.