All travellers are advised that Avoidance of mosquito bites during daylight hours is the only reliable means of prevention as no vaccine is available against Chikungunya.
Methods of bite avoidance include:
- Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
- The use of insect repellent containing DEET applied to any exposed skin.
- The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets and clothing sprays
- The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
- Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).
Chikungunya is a self limiting, febrile, viral illness with an incubation period of 1-12 days. Symptoms include :
- Severe joint pains
- Back pain may be prominent
- The joints of the knee may be painful and swollen.
- High fever (39-40°C) with chills, and conjunctivitis.
- There may be headache and slight photophobia
- After 2-3 days may be followed by the onset of a generalised rash.
Children who are infected are less likely to develop the characteristic illness.
Chikungunya is diagnosed on the basis of antibody testing, and although there is no specific treatment for Chikungunya, the illness is usually self limiting and will resolve with time. Supportive medical care with anti-inflammatories and analgesics is appropriate. The infection is usually uncomplicated but the arthritis may be prolonged, particularly in adults. Children may develop neurological symptoms resulting in seizures as a complication of the disease
Further advice, sterile needle kits and vaccine are available at The Travel Clinic Ltd