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Alabamians given tips on Chikungunya prevention

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness that is transmitted to

people from the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes can pick

up the virus from an infected person and then, during their next

feeding, pass the virus on to another person.

Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe,

and the Indian and Pacific oceans. In late 2013, chikungunya

virus was found for the first time in the Americas or islands in

the Caribbean. So far this year, 93 chikungunya cases have been

reported in Puerto Rico and 7 cases in the Virgin Islands.

Members of missionary aid groups returning from Haiti are among the people who have the illness.

As of July 17, the Alabama Department of Public Health had

received confirmation of 3 chikungunya cases, 1 additional

laboratory-confirmed test that is not classified as a case (no fever or chills reported) and 2 preliminarily positive test

results. All cases are in Alabama residents who traveled to Haiti

or other parts of the Caribbean. Florida has just reported the

first domestic transmission of chikungunya with 2 cases.

The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint

pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint

swelling or rash. No vaccine or medicine is available to prevent

chikungunya. The only way to prevent chikungunya is to prevent

mosquito bites.

“Preventing mosquito bites can be difficult, but it is

important because you can get sick after just one bite,”

Assistant State Health Officer for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Mary G. McIntyre said. “Mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya

bite during the day, so any time you’re outside use mosquito

repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.”

When traveling to known endemic areas for chikungunya

including Haiti, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican

Republic and other areas, travelers are advised:

Protect yourself from mosquito bites by using mosquito
netting.
Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots,
pants, socks and tents). You can buy pre-treated clothing and
gear or treat them yourself.
Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings.
See the product information to find out how long the protection
will last.
If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions
carefully.
Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
Stay and sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed
to the outdoors.

These cases serve as a reminder that people need to protect

themselves by preventing mosquito bites while at home and

away.

Mosquitoes carry and transmit several diseases that infect

humans and animals, like birds, and horses. In Alabama,

mosquitoes transmit arboviral diseases including West Nile virus

(WNV) fever and encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE),

St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), and LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC).

Rarely, mosquitoes can transmit malaria, dengue and yellow fever in Alabama. Mosquitoes do not transmit AIDS/HIV, leukemia or

hepatitis.

To reduce your exposure to mosquitoes:

Stay indoors, especially during the dusk and dawn hours when
mosquitoes are most active.
Some mosquitoes that transmit diseases, such as the Asian
tiger mosquito, are active during the day, so while outdoors wear
light-colored, tightly woven, loose clothing and insect
repellent.
Wear enough insect repellent to cover skin and clothes that
contain one of the following EPA-registered ingredients DEET,
Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD or IR3535.
Contact your health care provider with concerns about
repellents.
Do not use repellents under clothing.
Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Spray repellent on hands first and then apply it on children
and faces. Do not apply to eyes or mouth and apply sparingly
around ears.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin and clothes with
soap and water.
Remember to reapply insect repellent when going back
outdoors.
Keep window and door screens shut and in good condition.
Repair holes.
Inspect your yard for places a mosquito could use to breed.
Eliminate breeding sites.
Dispose of containers that collect water, like buckets, cans,
bottles and jars.
Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, unclog drains and
gutters.
Empty and scrub birdbaths, pet bowls and animal troughs to
get rid of mosquito eggs.
Dispose of unused tires. Overturn or store under cover
wheelbarrows, tubs and wading pools when not in use.
Keep weeds, vines and grass trimmed.
Fill tree holes with sand or mortar.
Change water in flower vases and pots twice weekly.