Mosquitoes are dangerous pests. They transmit many harmful pathogens, including the parasite that causes malaria and the virus that causes chikungunya. Outbreaks of chikungunya can now occur almost anywhere in the world, and the symptoms of this infection are similar to those caused by Zika and dengue; they include fatigue, headache, nausea, joint pain and swelling, and rash. So the disease can be tough to differentiate from other diseases, and misidentification may delay treatment.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about an ongoing chikungunya outbreak in China. This outbreak is happening in a southern province called Guangdong right now, which has arisen after serious floods pummeled the area.
Symptoms tend to start about four to eight days after exposure. Joint pain can be debilitating; the name chikungunya comes from a word in the southern Tanzanian language of Kimakonde, which means “that which bends up” and describes the positions of those afflicted by chikungunya joint pain.
Severe symptoms like heart or neurological complications are rare, but can happen and tend to occur in vulnerable populations such as the very young and old.
There is no treatment for chikungunya, and treatments like acetaminophen aim to relieve symptoms. While there are two chikungunya vaccines that have been approved in some countries, they are not yet widely available. But the CDC is advising Americans who may be traveling to Guangdong to get vaccinated for chikungunya, and for pregnant travelers to reconsider their trip due to the potential risk to the fetus. The chikungunya virus can be transmitted to fetuses or infants before or during delivery.
Preventing the infection is the main way to stop the disease; preventive measures include using mosquitoes nets and staying fully dressed. Right now, Chinese authorities are working to control mosquito populations by eliminating sources of standing water (where mosquitoes reproduce), and fining violators. Insecticides are also being employed.
China’s first case of chikungunya was in 1987. Their first significant outbreak affected 253 people in 2010.
Climate change is bringing a lot more devastating flooding to many world regions, and the floodwaters bring many hazards. One of them is the spread of infectious diseases, highlighted by this instance. A modeling study published in 2017 in Scientific Reports investigated the potential impacts of climate change on chikungunya; they study found that the disease was very likely to expand in multiple regions of the world.
