World Health Organization raises concern about spread of mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus
Of particular concern is the increasing number of imported cases and recent local transmission within Europe. There have been approximately 800 imported chikungunya cases in continental France since May 1, Rojas Alvarez said. Twelve local transmission episodes have been detected in several southern French regions, meaning individuals were infected by local mosquitoes without having travelled to endemic areas. A case was also detected last week in Italy.
Chikungunya, for which there is no specific treatment and which is spread primarily by Aedes mosquito species, including the "tiger mosquito" which also transmits dengue, and Zika, can cause rapid and large outbreaks. As the mosquitoes bite in the daytime, prevention is key, through the use of insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mosquito bites turn deadly after chikungunya virus cases cross 240,000, CDC issues urgent travel warning over spread from China to the world
U.S. health officials have issued a stark warning for travellers heading to China, after a surge in chikungunya virus cases hit Guangdong province. The CDC released a travel advisory on August 1 urging Americans to exercise enhanced precautions, marking the region a hotspot amid a global wave of infections. CDC sounds the alarm as China battles chikungunya surge Foshan, a major city in Guangdong, has recorded over 7,000 confirmed cases since June. Chinese authorities held an emergency conference last month to strategise prevention efforts and promised to release early warnings through all available platforms to curb the spread. Global cases cross 240,000, where else is it spreading? The 2025 chikungunya outbreak is not limited to China. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, over 240,000 people across the globe have been infected, with 90 fatalities reported so far. Other nations battling active outbreaks include Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka. 🚨Chikungunya Outbreak in China's Guangdong Province: Over 7,000 cases of the Chikungunya virus, transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, have been reported. Foshan City is the most affected, prompting urgent government measures. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, muscle… Additionally, countries like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Nigeria are now being flagged as high-risk zones, even though official outbreaks have not yet been declared. What exactly is chikungunya? First identified in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The disease shares several symptoms with dengue and Zika but can escalate more severely in vulnerable individuals. The World Health Organization estimates 5.6 billion people globally are at risk of contracting arboviral infections such as chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever. Symptoms that should not be ignored Health experts describe chikungunya symptoms as sudden and intense. The CDC outlines high fever, joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, headaches and skin rashes as the most common signs. Although most infections resolve within two to 12 days, some patients, particularly the elderly, newborns, and those with pre-existing health issues—may experience life-threatening complications including cardiovascular or neurological distress. Is there a cure or vaccine? Currently, there are no antiviral treatments available. Doctors usually prescribe medications to manage fever and joint pain. Two vaccines have been approved but are not yet widely accessible. A U.S. vaccine was paused in May due to adverse event reports. With no definitive cure and a rising death toll, prevention remains the most powerful defence.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
CDC issues level 2 travel alert for China as chikungunya spreads — Symptoms US travelers should watch for
Americans planning a trip to China are being urged to stay alert. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel alert following a major outbreak of the chikungunya virus. The warning comes after over 7,000 cases were reported in Guangdong province, according to the BBC. In Foshan, one of the hardest-hit cities, patients are being hospitalized until they test negative. Hospitals are using mosquito nets on beds, something not seen since the early COVID-19 days. How the virus spreads Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus. It spreads through the bite of an infected female mosquito—usually Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes also transmit dengue and Zika. They bite mostly during daylight and lay eggs in still water, like puddles, buckets, or plant pots. When a mosquito bites someone infected with chikungunya, it picks up the virus. Over the next few days, the virus multiplies inside the mosquito. Once it reaches the mosquito's saliva, it can pass on the virus to the next person it bites. That person can then pass it on to more mosquitoes, creating a cycle. Symptoms to watch for As per the World Health Organization, Symptoms usually appear 4–8 days after the bite (but can show up as early as 2 days or as late as 12). The illness often begins suddenly. Key signs include: High fever Intense joint pain (often severe and long-lasting) Swollen joints Muscle pain Headache Nausea Fatigue Rash Symptoms can be confused with other viruses like dengue and Zika. Without the telltale joint pain, mild cases may go unnoticed. Patients mostly recover fully from the infection; however, occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been reported with CHIKV infections. Who is at risk? Those at highest risk for severe chikungunya infection include people at the extremes of age. Newborns are particularly vulnerable, especially if they are infected during delivery from a mother who has the virus, or if they are bitten by an infected mosquito within the first few weeks of life. Older adults, particularly those with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or weak immunity, are also more likely to experience complications. How to protect yourself? If you are travelling to China or places nearby, it is advised to follow some precautions to protect yourself Apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin to prevent bites. Covering your skin reduces the chances of mosquitoes landing on and biting you. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so steer clear of places with puddles, open containers, or clogged drains. Aedes mosquitoes that spread chikungunya bite mostly during the day, so limit outdoor activity during daylight hours. Proper ventilation and screened windows keep mosquitoes out and help create a safe, bite-free environment indoors.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Polio lost, but fake records & imperfect vax helped it rear its ugly head
Karachi: For the past decade, Sughra Ayaz has traveled door to door in southeastern Pakistan, pleading with parents to allow children to be vaccinated against polio as part of a global campaign to wipe out the paralytic disease. She hears their demands and fears. Some are practical - families need basics like food and water more than vaccines. Others are simply unfounded - the oral doses are meant to sterilize their kids. Amid rampant misinformation and immense pressure for the campaign to succeed, Ayaz said, some managers have instructed workers to falsely mark children as immunized. And the vaccines, which must be kept cold, aren't always stored correctly, she added. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "In many places, our work is not done with honesty," Ayaz said. The World Health Organization and partners embarked on their polio campaign in 1988 with the bold goal of eradication - a feat seen only once for human diseases, with smallpox in 1980. They came close several times, including in 2021, when just five cases of the natural virus were reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But since then, cases rebounded, hitting 99 last year, and officials have missed at least six self-imposed eradication deadlines. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where transmission of polio - which is highly infectious, affects mainly children under 5, and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours -- has never been interrupted. The worldwide campaign has focused most of its attention and funding there for the past decade. But in its quest to eliminate the disease, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has been derailed by mismanagement and what insiders describe as blind allegiance to an outdated strategy and a problematic oral vaccine, according to workers, polio experts and internal materials. Live Events Officials have falsified vaccination records, selected unqualified people to dole out drops, failed to send out teams during mass campaigns, and dismissed concerns about the oral vaccine sparking outbreaks, according to documents shared with AP by staffers from GPEI - one of the largest and most expensive public health campaigns in history, with over $20 billion spent and nearly every country in the world involved. In Afghanistan and Pakistan - which share a border, harbor widespread mistrust of vaccines, and have weakened healthcare systems and infrastructure - local staffers like Ayaz have for years flagged problems to senior managers. But those issues, along with concerns by staffers and outside health officials, have long gone unaddressed, insiders say. Officials tout the successes - 3 billion children vaccinated, an estimated 20 million people who would have been paralyzed spared - while acknowledging challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Remote villages are hard to reach, some cultural and religious authorities instruct against vaccination, and hundreds of polio workers and security staff have been killed because of their alignment with a Western-led initiative. Dr. Jamal Ahmed, WHO's polio director, defended progress in those two countries. "There's so many children being protected today because of the work that was done over the past 40 years," he said. "Let's not overdramatize the challenges, because that leads to children getting paralyzed."
