The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Environmental Health Services has begun taking precautionary measures to protect residents from the chikungunya virus which has already been detected in several countries around the region.

No cases of the viral infection have been reported in the Bahamas but local health officials have been on alert for the virus ever since the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) issued travel watches for parts of the Caribbean that have cases of the illness, according to Ministry of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen.

“Targeting activities have already began in areas where there are a lot of travellers, areas like the airport,” Dr Brennan said.

Chikungunya is caused by a virus that spreads through mosquito bites. It is caused by the same mosquitoes whose bites can cause dengue fever and yellow fever, Dr Brennen said.

Symptoms of the illness include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash.

Dr Brennen said people can take precautionary measures against the chikungunya virus by using pest repellents on mosquitoes and wearing shirts with long sleeves and pants with long legs to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

He added that people should decrease the amount of water storage areas around their residences or spray larvicide in such areas.