The Chikungunya Virus has re-emerged from a dormancy lasting roughly 20 years and is spreading from its epidemic base in Africa and Southeast Asia. The virus originally caused a low-grade fever and few symptoms but this has now changed.
It seems that the virus has undergone a crucial mutation in its genome over the last couple of years and is now capable of infecting a new type of mosquito. Chikungunya has mutated into a virulent and rapidly spreading viral strain. The original type of mosquito which carried the virus was the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, which is found in Africa and Asia predominantly. The mutation has allowed the virus to be transferred to new human hosts through the Asian Tiger Mosquito.
Since 2005 the Chikungunya Virus has infected roughly 1.4 million people in India and Indian Ocean Islands and from early reports, it may be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.
The virus has now established itself in the mosquito populations in Italy and is moving deeper into Europe. Between June and August, there have been 100 cases of the virus in Italy. The Italian Government has used widespread spraying to lessen the indigenous mosquito populations to stem the infection rates.
The Chikungunya Virus causes Chikungunya Fever which results in debilitating illness with symptoms that last from one week to more than a few months. Symptoms last up to 8 months or more in elderly patients. The typical onset of the illness commences with a debilitating headache, then incapacitating joint pain or arthritis from which the disease gets in name. "Chikungunya" or Kungunyla in the Tanzanian language of Makonde means to dry up, which is the infected position people adopt, to relieve the symptoms of excruciating joint pain.
There is currently no treatment for the virus but some headway has been made using Chloroquine and other medications to mitigate the pain in the patient.
The disturbing part of the equation is that in August 1985 a shipment of used tires at the port of Houston Texas was found to contain the Asian Tiger Mosquito. The Asian Tiger populations have now spread to almost all regions of the United States extending all the way to Eastern Canada.
The mosquito is termed as an aggressive bitter and is identified by its extremely black body with white stripes. The Asian Tiger Mosquito can be four to five times harder to kill than indigenous mosquito species with the application of pesticide sprays.
The views are my own and are based on my own experiences and are written from personal insights and observations.