Health Research: Shaking the nanomaterials out: New method to purify contaminated water ♦ Do you really need that MRI? ♦ Researchers report possibility of using unused human pancreata to build new organs

Shaking the nanomaterials out: New method to purify contaminated water Nano implies small -- and that's great for use in medical devices, beauty products and smartphones -- but it's also a problem. All these tiny particles get into our water and are difficult to remove. Now, researchers have a novel and very simple way to take the nanomaterials out.

Researchers report possibility of using unused human pancreata to build new organs Researchers have been working for years to develop an artificial pancreas in the lab to help the millions of people with type 1 diabetes. But what if the answer is to 'recycle' the more than 300 human pancreata from organ donors that aren't currently being used?

Scientists identify effective and novel mechanisms to block chikungunya virus Scientists looking at the antiviral mechanisms of two previously identified human monoclonal antibodies have found they potently inhibit chikungunya virus (CHIKV) at multiple stages of infection. These antibodies prevent CHIKV from both entering and exiting cells, an important finding that could lead to new approaches in therapeutics and vaccines to fight infectious diseases.

Do you really need that MRI? Too many tests at the doctor's office could cost you more than just dollars. In addition to the huge hit to your wallet, there's also the potential harm of false positives, and just because a test has traditionally been done for a condition doesn't mean it's the best way to treat it. One expert is helping lead a national push to determine what neurologic tests or services are performed more than they should be.

Brain Research: Mosquito-borne virus may lead to severe brain infection ♦ Link found between early-stage brain and heart disease ♦ Study 'opens gate' to understanding depression

Mosquito-borne virus may lead to severe brain infection The mosquito-borne virus chikungunya may lead to severe brain infection and even death in infants and people over 65.

Study 'opens gate' to understanding depression A new scientific model that incorporates the myriad drivers of depression could lead to more precise treatment for an illness that affects 350 million worldwide.

Magnesium ions show promise in slowing progression of Alzheimer's disease in mice In mouse models Alzheimer's disease, oral administration of magnesium-L-threonate (MgT) alleviated cognitive decline.

Contact sports played by amateurs increase risk of degenerative disorder Scientists have recently found evidence that professional football players are susceptible to a progressive degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repetitive brain trauma. Now, researchers have discovered a significant and surprising amount of CTE in males who had participated in amateur contact sports in their youth.

Link found between early-stage brain and heart disease A connection between very early stages of brain and heart disease has been identified by researchers in the Netherlands .

Health News: Penn State hershey warns 2300 patients of infection risk ♦ Research points to development of single vaccine for Chikungunya, related viruses

Penn State hershey warns 2300 patients of infection risk . Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center notified 2,300 patients who had open-heart surgery at the medical center between November 2011 – November 2015 that they may have been exposed to a rare bacteria after 3 patients at WellSpan York Hospital had infections linked to heart bypass machines with heater-cooler devices. The medical center stated that there have been no confirmed cases and replaced all of its heater-cooler devices

Chronic arsenic exposure can impair ability of muscle to heal after injury Chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to stem cell dysfunction that impairs muscle healing and regeneration. More than 140 million people worldwide and 4 million Americans chronically ingest arsenic in their drinking water. The 21st most abundant metal in Earth's crust, arsenic is naturally present in soil and bedrock-walled wells and has no odor, color or taste

Research points to development of single vaccine for Chikungunya, related viruses What if a single vaccine could protect people from infection by many different viruses? That concept is a step closer to reality. Researchers have identified 'broadly neutralizing' antibodies that protect against infection by multiple, distantly related alphaviruses -- including Chikungunya virus -- that cause fever and debilitating joint pain.

New SARS-like virus can jump directly from bats to humans, no treatment available

A new bat SARS-like virus has been discovered that can jump directly from its bat hosts to humans without mutation. However, researchers point out that if the SARS-like virus did jump, it is still unclear whether it could spread from human to human.

Health Research: Virus-carrying mosquitoes are more widespread than ever ♦ The riddle of Celiac disease solved? ♦ Medical tourism: Implications for patients, health systems

Longer acquaintance levels the romantic playing field Partners who become romantically involved soon after meeting tend to be more similar in physical attractiveness than partners who get together after knowing each other for a while, according to new findings

Smell fingerprints? Each person may have a unique sense of smell Scientists have developed an 'olfactory fingerprint' test that may do more than just identify individuals.

Virus-carrying mosquitoes are more widespread than ever, and spreading Scientists behind the first global distribution maps of two species of dengue and chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes warn they are spreading to new areas where they could cause disease

The riddle of Celiac disease solved? The cause of celiac disease has been found, researchers claim. Experts estimate that 1% of people have celiac disease. This is a partly hereditary disease that may place considerable strain on patients and their families. The immune system of patients with celiac disease reacts to gluten proteins from cereal grains, causing inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. This reaction to gluten causes the immune system of celiac patients to attack their own body.

Medical tourism: Implications for patients, health systems Patients who travel abroad for medical treatment risk returning with complications or infections that require costly treatment, and is one of the issues highlighted in a new handbook exploring medical tourism

Health News: Trading away our food safety ♦ Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage ♦ Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated b

Trading away our food safety Although there is heated debate about the fate of fast track—or Trade Promotion Authority—and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a little-discussed aspect is how trade pacts affect the food we eat, and the food we feed our children. That’s why many concerned citizens and government leaders such as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling for more transparency

Scientists regenerate bone tissue using only proteins secreted by stem cells Scientists have discovered a way to regrow bone tissue using the protein signals produced by stem cells. This technology could help treat victims who have experienced major trauma to a limb, like soldiers wounded in combat or casualties of a natural disaster. The new method improves on older therapies by providing a sustainable source for fresh tissue and reducing the risk of tumor formation that can arise with stem cell transplants.

New device provides chikungunya test results in an hour Health workers now have a quick way to detect the presence of the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus within an hour, rather than waiting for results of laboratory tests that take days, or even weeks, scientists report.

Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage A method of using bacteria to help test for the presence of a wide array of pollutants has been developed. The scientists say that their method may potentially be used for everything from well water testing to seaside construction purposes

Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated by significant deterioration in movement, speech and functioning in some adolescents and young adults. Physicians previously attributed this regression to depression or early-onset Alzheimer's, and it has not responded to treatments. Now, a researcher has found that Catatonia may cause regression in patients with Down syndrome. Individuals with regressive Down syndrome who were treated for Catatonia showed improvement

Health Research:How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries ♦ Artificial virus fragment the key to a Chikungunya vaccine ♦ Hepatitis C virus infection

Alcohol use disorders - stronger predictor of mortality than chronic hepatitis C virus infection Scientists show that alcohol use disorders (AUD) have a serious, negative prognostic outcome with higher mortality risks in the general population and patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in particular.

How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries Studies have shown that patients who undergo surgeries on weekends tend to experience longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates and readmissions. For the first time, a new study has identified five resources that can help hospitals overcome this 'weekend effect': increased nurse-to-bed ratio; full adoption of electronic medical records; inpatient physical rehabilitation; a home-health program; and a pain management program.

Is a small artificially composed virus fragment the key to a Chikungunya vaccine? The mosquito transmitted Chikungunya virus, which causes Chikungunya fever, is spreading continuously. No vaccine is so far available. Researchers have experimentally recombined segments of the virus surface protein E2, thus creating artificial proteins. The domain generated that way -- 'sAB+' -- was able to confer a protective effect against Chikungunya virus to the animal. An immunization by means of this small protein fragment could thus provide a suitable approach to developing a Chikungunya vaccine.

Whooping cough: A small drop in vaccine protection can lead to a case upsurge In 2012 the USA saw the highest number of pertussis -- whooping cough -- cases since 1955. New research finds that a likely explanation for this rise in disease is a drop in the degree of vaccine protection for each vaccinated individual.

2/20/15 Health News: Floridians Object to Gmo Mosquitos--Mystery Disease Triggers Resurgence--Parents experience post-traumatic stress disorder--Stroke survivors higher risk of having cancer

Messing With Mosquito DNA Creates Angry Buzz in Florida  In the bite-size community of Key Haven, like so many other mosquito-plagued spots up and down the Florida Keys, residents long ago made peace with insecticides dropped into town by planes or rumbling by on trucks. Continue Reading

Middle East Mystery Disease Triggers Early Resurgence  International health experts head to Saudi Arabia to help determine why MERS cases are soaring again.Infectious disease watchers are again wondering what is going on in Saudi Arabia. Since the beginning of February the Saudis have reported 52 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome 40 have come to light in the past week Continue Reading

Parents experience post-traumatic stress disorder after child's stroke Parents of children who had suffered a stroke showed signs of PTSD while children showed signs of anxiety. Parents' PTSD and children's anxiety could have a negative effect on the children's stroke recovery Continue Reading

Stroke survivors may be at higher risk of having cancer  A study of stroke survivors showed that having a stroke was linked with an increased risk of having an underlying cancer. Continue Reading

New weapon in war against flu pandemics and pneumonia  Scientists have developed an antibody which boosts the survival chances for patients suffering from influenza and pneumonia. Proven effective in lab tests, the antibody is now being made suitable for use in humans. The scientists are also using the new antibody to develop a diagnostic kit which can help doctors accurately track the recovery progress of flu and pneumonia patients Continue Reading

2/8/15 Health News: A phone so smart, it sniffs out disease ♦ Hydrogen sulfide helps lower blood pressure ♦ Biomaterial coating improves success of medical implants

A phone so smart, it sniffs out disease

Imagine a smartphone that not only finds the nearest five-star restaurant or hails a cab with a quick click, but also diagnoses illness. New technology would enable smartphones to screen their users' breath for life-threatening diseases, developers report. Continue Reading

Hydrogen sulfide could help lower blood pressure

A new compound, called AP39, which generates minute quantities of the gas hydrogen sulfide inside cells, could be beneficial in cases of high blood pressure and diseases of the blood vessels that occur with aging and diabetes, new research suggests. Continue Reading

Biomaterial coating raises prospect of more successful medical implants

A novel, bacteria-repelling coating material that could increase the success of medical implants has been created. The material helps healthy cells 'win the race' to the medical implant, beating off competition from bacterial cells and thus reducing the likelihood of the implant being rejected by the body. Continue Reading

Shared symptoms of Chikungunya virus, rheumatoid arthritis may cloud diagnosis

A mosquito-borne virus that has spread to the Caribbean and Central and South America and has caused isolated infections in Florida often causes joint pain and swelling similar to that seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Continue Reading

Chikungunya risk to travelers to Caribbean, Central and South America

Travelers to area remain at risk through fall and winter

Fall in the United States means residents in most of the country will see fewer mosquitoes and less risk of the diseases they spread. However, the chikungunya outbreak in Caribbean and Central and South American countries continues to spread with no sign of slowing down. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning that the painful mosquito-borne disease will likely continue to infect travelers to the region during the rest of this year and beyond.

The outbreak, which began last December, had caused an estimated 795,000 chikungunya fever cases in 37 countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere as of the end of October. More than 1,600 travelers returning to the United States with chikungunya fever have been reported (as of Nov. 4, 2014). Before this outbreak, an average of 28 travelers with chikungunya fever returned to the United States each year.

CDC estimates that about 9 million people travel between the United States and Caribbean each year. During fall and winter, people in the United States might not be thinking about mosquitoes as a risk for diseases. So those who will be visiting the Caribbean or Central or South America should be aware of the risk of chikungunya in these areas this fall and winter and remember their insect repellent and other tips for staying safe.

“The beginning of fall means that mosquito problems in the continental United States will be decreasing. However, travelers to areas where the chikungunya outbreak continues are at risk of becoming infected.  It is important that travelers understand these risks and take appropriate actions to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Roger S. Nasci, Ph.D., chief of CDC’s Arboviral Diseases Branch.

Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid chikungunya and other mosquito-borne illnesses. The mosquitoes that spread chikungunya bite mostly during the daytime. CDC recommends using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants during the day and staying in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms at night. Those using sunscreen should apply insect repellent after sunscreen.

Some travelers may be more likely to get chikungunya, depending on where they travel and the length of their trip. Travelers more likely to have severe disease if they are infected (high-risk groups) include people older than 65 and those with arthritis or serious underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes. CDC advises travelers in high-risk groups to discuss their travel plans with their health care provider before leaving.

People infected with chikungunya virus typically develop fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include muscle aches, headaches, joint swelling, or rash. Travelers who return from areas with chikungunya activity and have symptoms of the disease should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about their recent travel.

Infection with chikungunya virus is rarely fatal, but the joint pain seen with chikungunya can often be severe and debilitating. The virus is not spread between people. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the infection. Patients recover in about a week, although some people have long-term joint pain. Infection is thought to provide lifelong immunity.

Before taking a trip, travelers can check the latest CDC recommendations at www.cdc.gov/travel (under travel notices) and learn about ongoing chikungunya activity at www.cdc.gov/chikungunya. For more information on preventing mosquito bites, visit:http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/prevention/index.html.

Deadly Mosquitoes Threaten United Kingdom

Forget Scottish independence, the biggest threat to the UK may be an invasion of potentially lethal mosquitoes that is already marching on Britain after arriving in the South East.

The deadly Asian tiger mosquito is a vector for dengue fever and chikungunya, a virus that can cause fevers of up to 40 C and joint pains that can last for several years.

The current wave of invaders is said to be carrying the West Nile virus, which causes symptoms similar to influenza. According to the Mirror, severe cases cause swelling of the brain and the spinal cord.

The mosquitos have spread across Europe in recent years, and have now been recorded in several locations in Kent.

Public Health England's Medical Entomology team programme leader Dr Jolyon Medlock said: "One of the things we are looking at is the incursion of invasive mosquitoes which act as vectors for diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya. The number of cases is fairly low in Europe at the moment, but with climate change and increased globalisation there is the potential for that to change."

The finding the Aedes albopictus mosquito in southern England is not surprising. It is already established in countries in the Mediterranean Basin, and predictive models forecast the extension of the range of this mosquito northward as climate change progresses.

Dengue and chikungunya viruses have occasionally been transmitted by Ae. albopictus in southeastern Europe, so concern about introduction of these and other mosquito-transmitted viruses into the United Kingdom is a valid concern.

Ae. albopictus "has managed to survive and spread in some [warmer] Mediterranean countries, especially in Italy where it has spread to many regions and provinces. There are various biological strains of Ae. albopictus and if the strain is a temperate one then it could survive in other European countries or areas where the mean summer temperature is at least 20 degrees C, and winter mean temperatures zero degrees C; in these conditions it would likely survive the cold months in the egg state." Once established, eradication can be difficult.

Source ProMED-mail

Experimental Chikungunya Vaccine Induces Robust Antibody Response

An experimental vaccine to prevent the mosquito-borne viral illness chikungunya elicited neutralizing antibodies in all 25 adult volunteers who participated in a recent early-stage clinical trial conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The most distinctive symptom of chikungunya infection is severe joint pain accompanied by headache and fever. There are currently no vaccines or specific drug treatments for chikungunya. First identified in East Africa in the early 1950s, chikungunya virus caused sporadic illness in Africa and large urban outbreaks in Thailand and India in the 1960s and 1970s. It first appeared in the Western Hemisphere in late 2013.

As of August 8, more than 570,000 confirmed or suspected cases had been reported throughout the Americas. In the continental United States, 484 cases have been reported as of August 5, and the first two locally acquired infections were detected in Florida in mid-July.

“The two species of mosquito that spread chikungunya virus are found in parts of the continental United States, so it may just be a matter of time before this illness gains a foothold here,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Therefore, it is prudent to begin addressing this emerging public health threat with the development of vaccines, such as this one, which was designed and tested by scientists from the NIAID Vaccine Research Center.”

In 2010, Vaccine Research Center (VRC) scientists and colleagues tested this candidate chikungunya vaccine in nonhuman primates. All of the immunized animals were protected from infection when later exposed to chikungunya virus.

In the newly reported trial, 23 healthy volunteers received three injections (two other volunteers received two injections) of vaccine at one of three different dosages (10, 20 or 40 micrograms) over a 20-week span. Antibody production was measured at multiple time points following each injection. Investigators detected chikungunya neutralizing antibodies in all volunteers following the second injection, with a significant boost of neutralizing antibodies seen following the third injection. Vaccine-induced antibodies persisted in all volunteers, even those who received the lowest dosage, for at least 11 months after the final vaccination, suggesting that the vaccine could provide durable protection against disease.

“The candidate vaccine prompted a robust immunological response in recipients and was very well tolerated,” noted VRC scientist Julie E. Ledgerwood, D.O., principal investigator of the trial. “Notably, the levels of neutralizing antibody produced in response to the experimental vaccine were comparable to those seen in two patients who had recovered from a chikungunya virus infection acquired elsewhere. This observation gives us additional confidence that this vaccine would provide as much protection as natural infection.”

Whereas traditional vaccines are typically made from either killed viruses or from weakened live viruses, the experimental vaccine used in the trial is a different type: a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. VLP vaccines contain the outer shell proteins of a virus without any of the material the virus needs to replicate inside cells. VLP vaccines often prompt an immune reaction similar to that of natural, whole virus and have a number of potential advantages over traditional vaccines, said Dr. Ledgerwood. Notably, because no live viruses are used in their manufacture, VLP vaccines do not need to be produced under high-level biocontainment conditions.

This candidate vaccine was delivered without an adjuvant — a substance added to vaccines to improve the immune response — but still prompted a good response, said Dr. Ledgerwood. If the candidate were to be formulated with an adjuvant, she added, it might be possible to achieve similar immune responses at lower vaccine dosages.

7/8/14 Health News: RISKY FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES IN HOME KITCHENS ♦ FARMWORKER HOUSING ♦ We do not want our food to have USA standards ♦ Mexico'sFirst Case of Chikungunya

FARMWORKER HOUSING LINKED TO CONSUMER DEMAND FOR SAFE FOOD

When a farmworker and her children were discovered living in a decommissioned walk-in freezer due to lack of housing, Marty Miller, executive director of the Office of Rural Development and Farm Worker Housing in Yakima, WA, was dismayed — but not surprised. “Unfortunately, not surprised,” Miller told Food Safety News. “I had already heard or... Continue Reading

UC-DAVIS STUDY IDENTIFIES RISKY FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES IN HOME KITCHENS

A  new consumer research study done by the University of California-Davis reveals that many safe food preparation practices are often overlooked in home kitchens, even among consumers who consider themselves to be well-informed on food safety. The research, funded by contributions from Foster Farms, will be published in Food Protection Trends in September. Americans often...Continue Reading

We do not want our food to have USA standards

Are USA food preparation standards lower than those in the UK? Comments (0) FOLLOWING recent food scandals, people are becoming much more aware of what goes into our food. The EU-US trade deal aims to "harmonise" European and American rules in food safety, which may mean slashing European standards to match the much lower US levels. So, products like hormone-treated meat …continue reading

Mexico Confirms First Case of Chikungunya Virus

A health official says Mexico has its first confirmed case of a person infected with a new mosquito-borne virus that has spread quickly in the Caribbean. Continue Reading

7/5/14 Health News: Natural' food meaningless ♦ FDA losing battle against tainted imported food ♦ We do not want our food to have USA standards ♦ Mexico Confirms First Case of Chikungunya Virus

Natural' food is big business; too bad it's meaningless

If it’s natural, it must be good for you – or at least better than the alternative, right? That’s what the majority of shoppers assume when they see the word “natural” on the processed foods that fill supermarket shelves, which in turn is why food manufacturers use it liberally on their product packaging. According to a survey released by Consumer Reports on 16 June, 60% of …continue reading

FDA losing battle against tainted imported food

(In April 2012, inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated a seafood company in southern India that had been exporting tons of frozen yellowfin tuna to the United States. What they found wasn’t appetizing: water tanks rife with microbiological contamination, rusty carving knives, paint peeling above the work area, unsanitary bathrooms and an outdoor ice …continue reading

We do not want our food to have USA standards

Are USA food preparation standards lower than those in the UK? Comments (0) FOLLOWING recent food scandals, people are becoming much more aware of what goes into our food. The EU-US trade deal aims to "harmonise" European and American rules in food safety, which may mean slashing European standards to match the much lower US levels. So, products like hormone-treated meat …continue reading

Mexico Confirms First Case of Chikungunya Virus

A health official says Mexico has its first confirmed case of a person infected with a new mosquito-borne virus that has spread quickly in the Caribbean. Continue Reading

6/30/14 Health News: MEDIUM-RARE BURGERS RISKY ♦ BAN ON ANTIBIOTIC USE ON FARMS ♦ CONGRESSWOMEN PROPOSE WOULD MAKE MEAT SAFER ♦ Mexico,s First Case of Chikungunya

MEDIUM-RARE BURGERS: A RISKY CULINARY COMEBACK

For those in the food industry, the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak of 1993 is known as the single event that convinced burger joints across the country to raise their internal cooking temperature by 15 degrees. In that outbreak, hamburgers sold at Jack in the Box franchises predominantly in Washington state sickened more... Continue Reading

AMA SEEKS BAN ON ANTIBIOTIC USE ON FARMS FOR GROWTH PROMOTION

The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for federal action to ban antibiotic use in food animals for growth promotion purposes so as to slow the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. “Use drives resistance and overuse drives resistance to happen even faster,” said David Wallinga, a physician on the Keep Antibiotics Working steering committee. There is... Continue Reading

 CONGRESSWOMEN PROPOSE SOLUTION TO ISSUE OF PATHOGENS AS ADULTERANTS

Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) are introducing a bill in the House of Representatives that would give the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) the authority to declare any foodborne pathogen an adulterant and recall contaminated products. The “Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act” amends the Federal Meat Inspection... Continue Reading

Mexico Confirms First Case of Chikungunya Virus

A health official says Mexico has its first confirmed case of a person infected with a new mosquito-borne virus that has spread quickly in the Caribbean. Continue Reading

6/20/14 Health News: SHIGELLOSIS CASES IN TEXAS ♦COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER ♦Wikipedia Articles on Medical Conditions Contain Inaccuracies ♦Chikungunya Virus Spreads in the America

UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF SHIGELLOSIS CASES REPORTED IN COASTAL BEND AREA OF TEXAS

Many more residents than normal from the Coastal Bend area of Texas have reportedly come down with Shigellosis, a bacterial infection that can cause serious diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps a day or two after being exposed. The Coastal Bend area is on the southeastern part of the state and includes Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Kingsville,... Continue Reading

NATIONAL POLLINATORS WEEK: CHECKING IN ON COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER

The week of July 16 is being celebrated as National Pollinators Week in an effort to bring more awareness to the integral role that pollinators such as bees, birds, and the other flying creatures play in the life cycles of an estimated 75 percent of the world’s crop varieties and 35 percent of total crop... Continue Reading

Study: 9 in 10 Wikipedia Articles on Medical Conditions Contain Significant Inaccuracies

Wikipedia is one of consumers' top online sources for health information, and about half of physicians admit having used it as a reference. However, a new study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association suggests the medical information found on Wikipedia is often inaccurate. Continue Reading

Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus Spreads in the Americas

Since December 2013, when the World Health Organization first reported local transmission of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus in the Western Hemisphere, local transmission has been detected in 17 Caribbean or South America countries or territories, according to a report published in the June 6 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The disease is seldom fatal but often debilitating, and the concern is that imported cases could spread locally‏. Continue Reading

Incurable Chikungunya Virus Spreads to At Least 6 States

Chikungunya fever (CHIK) is an infection caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, similar to West Nile and dengue viruses. The Chikungunya virus was first identified during an outbreak in 1952 in southern Tanzania, although it is suspected to have been present in Africa and Asia for much longer. It is not currently found in the United States.

Chikungunya fever outbreaks have been reported in Africa, southern Europe, Southeast Asia, India, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In December 2013, a cluster of CHIK cases were reported from St. Martin, an island in the Caribbean. This is the first known occurrence of local CHIKV transmission in the Americas.

So fat the cases in the US have been to people who had been traveling to the Caribbean. But if someone who is infected is bitten by a mosquito in the US then the disease can be spread by local mosquitos.

Chikungunya virus is spread by two mosquito species: Aedes aegypti(primarily) and Aedes albopictus, both found in Florida. While the virus is not currently found in the state, introductions are possible if a CHIKV infected visitor or returning traveler is bitten by Florida mosquitoes in the early stages (the first week) of their illness. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people they bite.

Prevention

The same actions to prevent other mosquito borne illness such as dengue and West Nile virus disease are effective for preventing CHIK. While traveling in areas where CHIK, dengue or other mosquito borne diseases are present remember to:

• use EPA approved repellants such as DEET
• wear comfortable clothing that protects skin from mosquito bites
• select hotels or other residences with intact window and door screens

Signs and Symptoms

An infected person will typically become ill three to seven days after the mosquito bite, but symptoms can begin anywhere from two to 12 days post-bite. These symptoms can last 3-10 days. Up to 28% of people who are infected will not have any symptoms (asymptomatic), although they can still be infectious to mosquitoes for a short time if bitten. Persons at greatest risk for severe illness include newborn infants, those over 65 years of age, and those who have other health conditions. Treatment is symptomatic or supportive.

Symptoms may include:

• Sudden high fever (usually >102º F) which may be continuous or intermittent
• Severe joint pain that commonly involves the hands and feet
• Joint swelling
• Back pain
• Rash usually 2-5 days after fever starts
• Other symptoms may include headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting, and redness around the eyes. In unusual cases, infection can involve the brain, eyes, heart, kidney and other organs.
• Fatal infections are rare, however many patients have chronic joint pain, arthritis, loss of energy and depression lasting weeks to years.

Chikungunya and Dengue

It is important to note that a person can be infected with CHIK and dengue viruses at the same time as they are both carried by the same types of mosquitoes. Therefore, it is important that providers consider both dengue fever and CHIK when evaluating suspect cases with travel to areas where both viruses are present. Testing is the only way for a health care provider to definitively differentiate CHIK and dengue fever.