Chikungunya is a virus transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. While the disease has been prevalent in other countries such as Africa, Asia and Europe for some time, the first suspected case of mosquito to human transmission occurred last week in Florida according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash, joint pain and headaches. There is no specific “cure” for the disease, but fortunately the CDCdoesn’t expect the virus to spread rapidly this mosquito season. The best way to protect yourself from this and other mosquito-born diseases like West Nile is to wear long sleeves and pants, diligently apply bug spray when outdoors, and remove standing water from your property, which is where mosquitoes breed.
For more information about chikungunya and how to protect yourself, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
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