Chikungunya virus is known to be the cause of chikungunya disease. The virus, like others, does not have a well-defined cure. It is transmitted by the virus-carrying mosquito known as Aedes (CDC). Particularly, the condition is transmitted in humans through the A aegypti and A albopictus which are the extrinsic hosts of the chikungunya virus. Other carriers of the disease include monkeys, rodents, and apes, which are considered reservoirs for chikungunya virus. Outbreaks of the virus have occurred in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific and Indian Oceans (CDC). In the wake of the year 2013, an outbreak of the disease was registered in the Caribbean regions on the American islands. This saw to rise of concerns as an event that the virus mutates to make its transmission by A albopictus more effective would result in its rapid spread across the United States (CDC). This is influenced by the fact that the A albopictus mosquito is more aggressive and predominant in the US.
As stated, the virus is transmitted to humanity through bites by mosquitoes. Upon biting a person with the ailment, mosquitoes become carriers and capable of transmitting the disease to another person (CDC). These mosquitoes mostly bite during the daytime and are the ones responsible for the transmission of yet another virus causing dengue disease. It is factual that most viral diseases can be transmitted from mother to child during birth. However, the chikungunya virus is rarely transmitted at childbirth. It is also known that blood transmission can also influence its spread (CDC). However, cases of its spread through the means are yet to be reported.
The symptoms of the disease begin featuring 3-7 days following a bite by a mosquito carrying the virus (CDC). The symptoms that are most commonly associated with the virus include joint pains and fever. An infected person also features symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, swelling of the joints or rush. In most of the reported cases, patients feel better within a period of a few weeks (CDC). However, the pains, in some cases, persist for months. The virus is not known to result in loss of life for the infected. It, however, can be intensely severe and even disabling for patients.
Among the people known to be vulnerable to the severity of the disease caused by the virus include newborns who acquire it at the time of their birth and adults above the age of 65 years. Medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure or even heart disease also make the disease severe in the infected individuals (CDC). It is important to note that the infection has some of its symptoms similar to the dengue disease. With the disease lacking a cure, it follows that its treatment is through seeking to reduce the cited symptoms (CDC). For instance, symptoms such as joint pains and muscle pains are reduced through appropriate medications. It is also important that infected individuals get plenty of rest in order to calm their muscles (CDC). Dehydration is also one of the factors that result from the diseases following high fevers. On contracting the virus, patients get experience conditions that result in heavy sweating in turn results in loss of large amounts of water. It is therefore important that infected individuals take plenty of water. Other ways of reducing the symptoms include taking painkillers.
Work Cited
CDC. Chikungunya Virus. 2014. Internet Source. Web. 11 August 2014.
Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/
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