Mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus is potentially worse than West Nile virus
A new tropical disease known as the Chikungunya virus has invaded the United States in recent years and experts fear that the new virus is potentially worse than West Nile virus— a disease that has killed 1,663 Americans since 1999.
Symptoms of the Chikungunya virus include fever, headache, severe muscle and joint pain, and rash. With no vaccine to prevent the disease, pain medication remains the main treatment.
Recent Chikungunya victims in the United States had been traveling in the Caribbean when they became infected. The virus is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through subsequent bites.
Worldwide Spread of the Disease
The mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus has quickly spread throughout the world since its first known appearance in Africa after a 1953 outbreak in Tanzania. Following this initial discovery, several more outbreaks took place during the 1950s and 1960s in Asia. The disease is now found in 25 countries in Africa and 19 countries in Asia, including China and India. Italy and France have reported cases of Chikungunya as well.
In the Americas, the disease occurs throughout the islands of the Caribbean. The first locally transmitted case of Chikungunya in the Caribbean region was recorded in December of 2013 Since August 2014, 776,00 known Chikungunya virus cases and 152 deaths have occurred in the Americas.
“Yellow Fever” Mosquito
Chikungunya is most commonly transmitted by a species of mosquito (Aedes aegypti) that lives in at least 23 states in the Southern United States and along the Eastern seaboard. The Aedes aegypti mosquito also appeared in California for the first time in 2013.
Aedes aegypti is often called the “yellow fever mosquito” because it also transmits yellow fever and dengue fever. The female Aedes aegypti is a dark-colored mosquito with a row of white polka dots along its side. It tends to bite humans and mammals during the day.
The Mosquito Breeds in Standing Water
The Aedes aegypti mosquito can breed in a tablespoon of standing water that remains for as little as one week. The most effective way to control mosquitoes is at the larval stage prior to their emergence as flying, biting adults.
Until advancements occur in the treatment and prevention of this disease, the only effective way to keep the Chikungunya virus at bay is to reduce the likelihood of human contact with these mosquitoes. More specifically, eliminating breeding areas by controlling standing water near homes and other places humans frequent is the key factor in preventing further spread of the virus. Homeowners are advised to be vigilant in eliminating places where water can collect in their yards and gardens. To reduce mosquito populations:
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, flower pots or any other containers where water has collected.
- Remove and discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items left outdoors that can collect water.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition with appropriate chlorination. Empty the water from children’s swimming pools when not in use.
- Treat water that cannot be emptied– such as in ponds, fountains, drain lines, ditches and wherever water collects– with Mosquito Dunks® and Mosquito Bits® that contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). BTI is a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquito larvae but is harmless to other living things.
Chikungunya virus is just one of many diseases spread by mosquitoes. Other diseases that spread through mosquito bites include West Nile virus, yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and heartworm. 
