Chikungunya Virus

OT will enjoy the catnip one:
http://eartheasy.com/blog/2011/04/5-easy-to-grow-mosquito-repelling-plants//

I mentioned my reluctance to use catnip earlier on in the thread and this article confirms my suppositions! Many years ago I decided to plant some catnip and the poor seedlings barely made it out of the immature double leaf growth stage before they were totally mangled by the resident clowder. I treat the bunch now and then with some dried catnip and they know as soon as I open the (tightly sealed) jar what's coming and then quickly turn into sloppy stoned drooling furballs when they've finished eating it and rolling in it. Not on my body!

"While catnip will repel mosquitoes in close proximity to the plant, some people apply crushed catnip leaves or catnip oil for more robust protection. Bear in mind, however, that cats will respond to you similarly as they would respond to the plant itself. Cat owners may want to choose an alternative plant for repelling mosquitoes."

that would mean that my big boy would bite even more than now, betty would be a purr monster and god only knows what boomer would do to his fur in their frenzied state

I may consider it further when I need a good massage ...

I thought vitamin B attracted mosquitos. :S

Cases of the virus have been reported in Florida.

Cases of the virus have been reported in Florida.

It was bound to happen, just as the very similar dengue spread.

“It is not known what course chikungunya will take now in the United States. CDC officials believe chikungunya will behave like dengue virus in the United States, where imported cases have resulted in sporadic local transmission but have not caused widespread outbreaks,” CDC said. Dengue has been seen in Florida and South Texas.

“None of the more than 200 imported chikungunya cases between 2006 and 2013 have triggered a local outbreak. However, more chikungunya-infected travelers coming into the United States increases the likelihood that local chikungunya transmission will occur."

from what i understand the person in florida got this from somewhere else

from what i understand the person in florida got this from somewhere else

Not so. Previous cases were confirmed in people contracting it overseas but these current cases were contracted locally. You can find many recent news reports on a search of, "chikungunya Florida".

The Daily News on line hasn't updated yet, but there is an article in yesterday's (7/18/14) dead tree edition about Puerto Rico declaring an epidemic with 200 cases as of June 25.

PR report here:

http://rt.com/usa/173948-chikungunya-puerto-rico-epidemic/

thanks ot, the last i had heard it was from outside. i read teresa's blog on her account and it is horrible. so so bad.

It has made it to Long Island, N.Y. At least 2 cases reported as of today.

creepy

It has made it to Long Island, N.Y. At least 2 cases reported as of today.

Contracted in NY or somewhere else? It's important to me because I thought of this virus being similar to Dengue being pretty much tropical only. From what i understand (i'm not going to look it up) that is because the mosquito's that carry Dengue can't survive in cooler weather...

They recently visited the Caribbean from what I understand. One other never left Long Island. Once someone is infected and bitten again that mosquito now transmits the disease to it's next victim.

I find confusing information as to how the Chik. virus is spread. It seems it is carried by more types of mosquitos than Dengue that travel farther north, but I may be wrong. The wikipedia article seems to be a bit misleading by showing a picture the same mosquito that the Dengue virus is carried by.

NoOne, the mosquito specie, Aedes aegypti, carries both Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses. Another specie, Aedes albopictus, can carry Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses, but to a much lesser extent.
Swan

"....Aedes aegypti is the species of mosquito which is primarily responsible for spreading dengue. Another species, Aedes albopictus, can also spread dengue, but it is much less successful as a disease vector. Other mosquito species do bite humans but do not spread dengue fever...."

"...The two types of mosquitoes that commonly carry CHIKV are Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Ae. aegypti is confined to the tropics and sub-tropics, but Ae. albopictus can survive in cold weather, which makes it possible that chikungunya will hit even the northern U.S...."

Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/Chikungunya-virus-mosquitoes-joint/2014/07/22/id/584048#ixzz38Pq6ndNE
Alert: What Is Your Risk for a Heart Attack? Find Out Now

http://www.oxitec.com/faqs/do-all-mosquitoes-spread-dengue-fever/ (DENGUE)

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dengue-transmission-22399758 (DENGUE)

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/Chikungunya-virus-mosquitoes-joint/2014/07/22/id/584048/ (CHIKUNGUNYA)

I've been wondering how Theresa is doing and whether she tested positive for Chikungunya. I posted an inquiry on her blog but thought I'd also ask here.

good question. i read her follow up blog also. and i thought dengue was bad

....and another one bites the dust. Taj is down with it, she's understandably thrilled.

does she have dengue or Chikungunya. did she get her blood test? hope she feels better soon

If you suspect a Chikungunya case please report it to the Dept of Health. They have recently hired a Territorial Epidemiologist from the CDC to monitor the situation as well as other health issues. She is also producing a weekly report so you can also monitor the situation.

Directions for reporting:
http://www.healthvi.org/forms/USVI%20Chik%20Reporting%20Instructions%20v07%2016%2014%20(2).pdf

Last weeks Chikungunya report:
http://www.healthvi.org/news/chik-weekly-report/wk31_ChikungunyaSurveillanceWeeklyReport_USVI.pdf

If you suspect a Chikungunya case please report it to the Dept of Health. They have recently hired a Territorial Epidemiologist from the CDC to monitor the situation as well as other health issues. She is also producing a weekly report so you can also monitor the situation.

I'm having trouble posting the direct links but you can check the healthful.org website or google "usvi doh chik" and the links should be the first few links.

http://www.healthvi.org/forms/USVI%20Chik%20Reporting%20Instructions%20v07%2016%2014%20(2).pdf

http://www.healthvi.org/news/chik-weekly-report/wk31_ChikungunyaSurveillanceWeeklyReport_USVI.pdf

Chikungunya spreads on St. Thomas, St. John

ST. THOMAS - A V.I. Alert went out Friday warning residents that the V.I. Health Department has confirmed 25 cases of chikungunya in the St. Thomas-St. John District.

St. Croix has no confirmed cases.

Since June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been helping the V.I. Health Department beef up its surveillance, investigation and diagnostic capacity, while also providing education to health care workers about the clinical management of the mosquito-borne virus.

The CDC and local Health Department have been offering free blood testing to confirm the cases as patients come into their doctors' offices with symptoms.

The virus is very similar to dengue, and the two share many symptoms including fever, rash and joint pain. Chikungunya, like dengue fever, is a reportable disease in the territory

I wonder how long it will be before it shows up in STX....