St. Martin Bugs

[Va. Plumber]

Anyone see on CNN last night about mosquito outbreak on French side of St. Martin? Apparently can cause virus.:mad:

[BlueJai]

YUK! Heading to CNN now!

[xenagurl]

Thanks for the heads up! We'll be there in a couple of weeks.

 

Articles for anyone interested:

 

http://www.kmbz.com/CDC-Warns-of-Mosquito-Borne-Virus-Outbreak-in-St-M/18001549

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/12/18/255216192/trouble-in-paradise-chikungunya-outbreak-grows-in-caribbean

 

http://www.newser.com/article/daaoc2202/scientists-outbreak-of-chikungunya-virus-in-st-martin-is-1st-local-transmission-in-americas.html

[HokiePoq]

If anyone finds this online, let us know. OP if you can recall any more info, would really be interested. I didn't find it from a quick search on CNN and google. Very interested as just came back sick from a cruise that went to St. Maarten. Fortunately didn't get bitten and DH has caught it from me since we got home, so that's the bright side, lol.

[spidybabe]

Look on the St Maarten Port of call thread::: alot of info there

But we added bug spray to our packing list .....although I hate the stuff. We live right by "ground zero" where west Nile was located, and we often...often get aerial sprayed at night, and it works great controlling the little buggers. Heard they started spraying there. Haven't heard any complaints from past cruisers - So don't worry....be happy.......

As always in life an ounce of prevention.......

Safe sailing

[Kristinemomof3]

My friend works for the local health department and she sent me this last Saturday. Heads up!

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

Begin forwarded message:

 

Date: December 13, 2013 at 4:34:12

Subject: IHAN - Indiana State Department of Health - Notification - 1138 - CDC HEALTH ADVISORY - Chikungunya Virus Infections in Travelers Returning from the Caribbean

Indiana Health Alert Network

 

This is an Official

Indiana Health Alert Network Notification Message

 

Distributed via the Indiana Health Alert Network

12/13/2013 4:33:35 PM

IHAN-1138-2013-12-13

 

Urgency Type: Notification

Message Status: Actual

Message Type: Original

 

CDC HEALTH ADVISORY - Chikungunya Virus Infections in Travelers Returning from the Caribbean

 

This is an official

CDC HEALTH ADVISORY

 

 

Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network

December 13, 2013, 1400:00 (2:00 PM ET)

CDCHAN-00358

 

 

Notice to Public Health Officials and Clinicians: Recognizing, Managing, and Reporting Chikungunya Virus Infections in Travelers Returning from the Caribbean

 

 

Summary

 

On December 7, 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first local (autochthonous) transmission of chikungunya virus in the Americas. As of December 12th, 10 cases of chikungunya have been confirmed in patients who reside on the French side of St. Martin in the Caribbean. Laboratory testing is pending on additional suspected cases. Onset of illness for confirmed cases was between October 15 and December 4. At this time, there are no reports of other suspected chikungunya cases outside St. Martin. However, further spread to other countries in the region is possible.

 

Chikungunya virus infection should be considered in patients with acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia, especially those who have recently traveled to the Caribbean. Healthcare providers are encouraged to report suspected chikungunya cases to their state or local health department to facilitate diagnosis and to mitigate the risk of local transmission.

 

 

Background

 

Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Humans are the primary reservoir during epidemics. Outbreaks have been documented in Africa, Southern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Prior to the cases on St. Martin, the only chikungunya cases identified in the Americas were in travelers returning from endemic areas.

 

 

Clinical Disease

 

A majority of people infected with chikungunya virus become symptomatic. The incubation period is typically 3-7 days (range, 2-12 days). The most common clinical findings are acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia. Joint pains are often severe and debilitating. Other symptoms may include headache, myalgia, arthritis, or rash. Persons at risk for more severe disease include neonates (aged less than1 month) exposed intrapartum, older adults (e.g., greater than or equal to 65 years), and persons with underlying medical conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease).

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Chikungunya virus infection should be considered in patients with acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia who recently returned from the Caribbean. Laboratory diagnosis is generally accomplished by testing serum to detect virus, viral nucleic acid, or virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and neutralizing antibodies. During the first week of illness, chikungunya virus infection can often be diagnosed by using viral culture or nucleic acid amplification on serum. Virus-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies normally develop toward the end of the first week of illness. To definitively rule out the diagnosis, convalescent-phase samples should be obtained from patients whose acute-phase samples test negative.

Chikungunya virus diagnostic testing is performed at CDC, two state health departments (California and New York), and one commercial laboratory (Focus Diagnostics). Healthcare providers should contact their state or local health department to facilitate testing.

 

 

Treatment

 

No specific antiviral treatment is available for chikungunya fever. Treatment is generally palliative and can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics. Because of similar geographic distribution and symptoms, patients with suspected chikungunya virus infections also should be evaluated and managed for possible dengue virus infection. People infected with chikungunya or dengue virus should be protected from further mosquito exposure during the first few days of illness to prevent other mosquitoes from becoming infected and reduce the risk of local transmission.

 

 

Prevention

 

No vaccine or preventive drug is available. The best way to prevent chikungunya virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Use air conditioning or screens when indoors. Use insect repellents and wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors. People at increased risk for severe disease should consider not traveling to areas with ongoing chikungunya outbreaks.

 

 

Recommendations for Health Care Providers and Public Health Practitioners

 

--Chikungunya virus infection should be considered in patients with acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia, especially those who have recently traveled to the Caribbean.

--Healthcare providers are encouraged to report suspected chikungunya cases to their state or local health department to facilitate diagnosis and to mitigate the risk of local transmission.

--Health departments should perform surveillance for chikungunya cases in returning travelers and be aware of the risk of possible local transmission in areas where Aedes species mosquitoes are currently active.

--State health departments are encouraged to report laboratory-confirmed chikungunya virus infections to ArboNET, the national surveillance system for arthropod-borne viruses.

 

 

For More Information

 

--General information about chikungunya virus and disease: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/

--Chikungunya information for clinicians: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/CHIKV_Clinicians.pdf

--Protection against mosquitoes: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-and-other-insects-and-arthropods

--Travel notices related to chikungunya virus: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

--Information about chikungunya for travelers and travel health providers: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/chikungunya

--Chikungunya preparedness and response guidelines: http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=16984&Itemid

--Dengue clinical management guidelines: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241547871_eng.pdf

 

 

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Categories of Health Alert Network messages:

 

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Health Advisory May not require immediate action; provides important information for a specific incident or situation

 

Health Update Unlikely to require immediate action; provides updated information regarding an incident or situation

 

HAN Info Service Does not require immediate action; provides general public health information

 

##This message was distributed to state and local health officers, state and local epidemiologists, state and local laboratory directors, public information officers, HAN coordinators, and clinician organizations##

 

 

 

 

 

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[Twinzma]

never mind.....great detailed information above. Thanks

Edited December 19, 2013 by Twinzma

[Va. Plumber]

I will be there at the end of January. Hope aerial spraying has effect.

Can't imagine any of us will be wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts in the Tropics

[HokiePoq]

Thanks for the heads up! We'll be there in a couple of weeks.

 

Articles for anyone interested:

 

http://www.kmbz.com/CDC-Warns-of-Mosquito-Borne-Virus-Outbreak-in-St-M/18001549

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/12/18/255216192/trouble-in-paradise-chikungunya-outbreak-grows-in-caribbean

 

http://www.newser.com/article/daaoc2202/scientists-outbreak-of-chikungunya-virus-in-st-martin-is-1st-local-transmission-in-americas.html

 

 

Thanks so much!

[partman57]

I will be there at the end of January. Hope aerial spraying has effect.

Can't imagine any of us will be wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts in the Tropics

 

I agree about the clothing. I am not going around in long sleeve shirt and long pants. I will just be asking to get bit on neck or face....See you 26th at M & G.