The Chikungunya virus is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infectious Aedes mosquitoes which are known to strike during the day even though is said doesn’t cause fatalities.
Kemri’s chief virologist, Rosemary Sang raised an alarm when she said that there was intense transmission at the hospitals in Mandera County but now it is under control.
“About 50 percent of health workers are affected because there is intense transmission at the hospitals. Patients should stay under bed nets during the day and night,” she said.
In fact, according to Digital Press Kit on the Chikungunya from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC some of the signs and symptoms of the infection are fever and severe joint pain.
In 2013, the Chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas on islands in the Caribbean. There is a risk that the virus will be imported to new areas by infected travellers.
Surprisingly, there is no vaccine to prevent or treat the virus once one is infected.
The virus can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites especially when travelling to areas with the Chikungunya virus, like through the use of insect repellent, mosquito nets, wearing long sleeves and pants, and staying in places with air conditioning are preventive measures.
Epidemics of the virus have taken place in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Although the government said on Friday June 3 that it has stepped up the fight against the virus as well as control the Aedes mosquito in Mandera County in addition to increasing surveillance at the coastal Counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu and Malindi.