New York City

Chikungunya hits Long Island – and Schumer wants action to stop spread

West Nile makes its annual appearance in NYC as well

July 24, 2014 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Sen. Schumer. AP photo by Susan Walsh
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The first thing to know about Chikungunya is there is no cure.

The second thing is it’s a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, which has spread like wildfire from Africa and Asia to the Caribbean and South America.

The third is that while the disease is rarely fatal, victims can suffer excruciating muscle pain, along with headache, nausea and rashes. Patients usually recover in a week, but symptoms can go on for months.

The fourth is it has hit Long Island, and U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer has raised the alarm.

At least three Long Islanders have contracted travel-related cases of Chikungunya, bringing the number to 30 across New York State. Sen. Schumer wants the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an immediate health alert for medical professionals to help contain the outbreak.

He also called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to declare a “public emergency” in the Caribbean and other countries, so the U.S. can deploy protocols similar to those used in 2009 during the Mexican swine flu outbreak. These include port-of-entry and food inspections.

“Chikungunya has now officially reached Long Island, and the feds must act before this debilitating virus spreads further and takes hold in New York,” Sen. Schumer said Thursday.

While Chickungunya is not often fatal, it can be highly debilitating. According to the World Health Organization, the name “Chikungunya” derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted” and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers.

Since 2006, the United States has averaged 28 imported cases of Chikungunya per year in travelers. According to Schumer, as of July 22 a total of 497 Chikungunya cases have been reported in U.S. states and territories.

One of the two mosquito species that carry the disease is highly prevalent in Brazil, which is worrisome considering the thousands who visited the country for the World Cup.  Health officials are asking those infected to use mosquito repellent to prevent mosquitoes from passing the disease along.

New York City Department of Health wants doctors to test symptomatic patients who have recently traveled to areas where the disease is endemic. All confirmed cases must be reported to DOH’s Bureau of Communicable Disease.

 

West Nile Also Hits NYC

 

Chikungunya is not the only mosquito-borne disease New Yorkers need to be concerned about.  

Two weeks ago, NYC DOH detected West Nile virus in city mosquitoes. The infected mosquitoes were collected from the Douglaston and College Point neighborhoods in Queens and Old Town from Staten Island.

West Nile can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

“Now that West Nile virus has returned to New York City, it is important to take simple precautions to protect you and your family,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said in a statement.

“During warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any still water that stands for more than four days, so the most effective way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water. New Yorkers are also encouraged to mosquito-proof their homes, wear mosquito repellent and cover their arms and legs if they’re outside at dawn or dusk. New Yorkers over 50 should be especially cautious, as they are more likely to develop serious illness if they contract the virus.”

The city is spraying larvicide in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

Not everyone infected with West Nile virus will become ill, according to DOH. It can cause serious complications, however, including neurological diseases.

 Experts say if you have symptoms of Chikungunya or West Nile virus, see your doctor right away.

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