China is fighting the outbreak of Chikungunya virus. What is this?

Chinese health officers are responding to the outbreak of a mosquito -borne virus that can cause severe pain.

More than 7,000 cases of Chikungunya have been reported in Chinese province Guangdong in recent weeks, most of the southern city of Foshan.

Reports of the region say that those who are infected are being reduced in the hospital until they conduct negative tests for the virus, and the workers are going to the houses in Foshan, to check the risk factors such as standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

Workers are also spraying parks and roads with pesticides, and authorities have released a “elephant mosquito” and mosquito-eating fishes to hunt virus-carrying insects.

On Tuesday, Canadian government said Level 2 travel advisor Encouraging passengers to practice health precautions when visiting China.

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is transmitted by infected female mosquitoes, most sub -species Aedes Agipti And Aedes albopictus – According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the same types that can transmit zika and dengue virus.

When a mosquito feeds an infected person, it swallows the virus and can transmit it to other humans.

The bite begins four to eight days later.

Different parts of the world have reported outbreaks and sporadic cases, mostly concentrated in recent decades in South America, Asia and Africa. Small outbreaks are also reported in Europe.

Pan is tracked by American Health Organization This year, more than 209,000 chikungunya cases in the US, with the highest number recorded in Brazil, and no one in Canada.

what are the symptoms?

Chikungunya can cause fever and potentially joint pain. It can also cause muscle pain, headache, nausea and rashes, according to WHO.

Symptoms usually live for several days and most people recover completely, but sometimes cases of eye, heart and neurological complications have been reported, as well as joint pain from weeks to years.

“The main issue is that it causes a very important combined pain,” infectious pathologist Dr. Isaac Bogoch said.

“Any joint in the body can be affected, but it affects small joints of hands and feet.”

People with newborns, elderly and underlying health conditions are at greater risk of serious symptoms and in rare cases, death.

According to WHO, the name “Chikunguniya” derives from a word in Kimkande language of South Tanzania, where the disease was first recognized in 1952. The word means “which bends,” which “describes asana unlike people infected with severe joints.”

Should Canadian people be worried?

Not according to bogocha. He says that it is not uncommon for Canadian physicians to see passengers back with various types of infections obtained abroad, including Chikungunya.

Canadian scientists are monitored Ades albopictus Mosquitoes, which are not broad in Canada, but are installed in the Windsor-ASEX region of Ontario, According to the federal government,

CBC News said, “I don’t think there is anything about it. It is a famous infection with a famous outbreak.” “You don’t want to get it, but we’re not going to outbreak in Canada, at least 2025 calendar year.”

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A vaccine called ixchiq is licensed for use in Canada, but is It is not recommended for anyone over 65 years of age,

Bogocha says that the best strategy for travelers is to keep mosquitoes as far as possible by wearing long sleeves and pants and using insect repellent.

He also recommends taking free advice from travel clinics.

He said, “There are some parts of the world that have malaria that may be fatal, or other various travel -related risk, and a travel experts can help navigate to people to have a healthy, safe and happy journey,” he said.