Suspect cases of mosquito diseases sent for tests

| 08/07/2014

(CNS): Following the confirmation of Cayman’s first imported case of chikungunya virus last month, public health officials said Tuesday that two more blood samples are now being tested to rule out dengue or chikungunya. The patients in both of these latest case did not present with classic symptoms of either illness but the tests are being undertaken as a routine precaution as both diseases continue to spread across the Caribbean region. Both dengue and chikungunya are transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pains, pain behind the eyes, and rash.  Among chikungunya symptoms are fever, joint pains, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. While joint pain is predominant in chikungunya, as muscle pain is in dengue, both illnesses share some clinical signs that can be misdiagnosed. For this reason, patients with these symptoms are investigated for both dengue and chikungunya. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) also tests, blood samples for both viruses. 

When travelling to countries with dengue and chikungunya virus, persons should use insect repellent containing DEET, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning, or that have window and door screens.

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I can't see what all the fuss is about. My partner and I picked up one of the dengue strains in the Pacific and the local remedy was paracetamol and plenty of fluids. In 24 hours we were pretty much back to normal. This just seems to be an excuse to make work for the medical profession. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm glad you're OK and didn't have a bad time of it, but dengue puts ~500,000 in hospital and kills ~25,000 people every year.  An outbreak could put a heavy burden on local health services and would surely have a negative effect on tourism.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Why do we still have to send these samples overseas to be tested.  Isn't it time that we set up our own labs.??  Just wondering.