VANCOUVER—Just weeks after British Columbia confirmed its first locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus, North America and Europe face a new health threat from another mosquito-borne disease.
The Chikungunya virus, which first appeared in southern Tanzania in 1952, has spread beyond Africa and since 2005 has caused outbreaks and numerous fatalities in India and the French island of Reunion. It has also surfaced in France and Italy.
“Unlike West Nile virus, where nine out of 10 people are going to be totally asymptomatic or may have a mild headache or a stiff neck, if you get Chikungunya you’re going to be sick,” said Dr. James Diaz of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Speaking at a meeting on airlines, airports, and disease transmission in Washington D.C. on Friday, Diaz said the virus is already “hyper-endemic” in the islands of the Indian Ocean—a popular tourist destination.
“Travel by air will import the infected mosquitoes and humans,” he said. “Chikungunya is coming.”
Cities with large impoverished populations and badly maintained water systems, such as Mexico City and Mumbai, could serve as breeding grounds for the disease, Diaz said.
Carried by the Asian tiger mosquito, Chikungunya causes an abrupt onset of fever frequently accompanied by joint and muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, rash, and headache.
Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain can last for several months or even years. The disease can lead to death in older individuals.
“At present there is no cause for alarm regarding Chikungunya in Canada, but we are aware of outbreaks in Asia and Europe,” said Caroline Grondin, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Grondin said that while the Asian tiger mosquito is not currently in Canada, the pest can be found in some southern U.S. states. The mosquito becomes infected by feeding on a person who has the virus.
“The spread of the virus to Canada would depend on the establishment of the vector as well as the import of the virus in an infected person during a period warm enough for transmission from that infected person, via mosquitoes, to other people,” she said.
Since the mosquito also carries dengue fever and malaria, Diaz warned of possible double-infections involving Chikungunya and these diseases.
Although native to the Southeast Asian tropics, the Asian tiger mosquito has adapted to cooler temperatures which allows it to live year-round in moderate climates. Currently the pest exists on every continent except Antarctica.
B.C.’s first indigenous human cases of West Nile occurred in British Columbia in August when two people became infected. And last week, B.C. also confirmed its first locally acquired cases of West Nile virus in horses.
“This is not a surprising development,” said Dr. Paul Kitching, chief veterinarian and branch director at B.C’s Animal Health Centre. “British Columbia has long anticipated the arrival of West Nile virus, and now it’s in multiple regions of the province.”
Kitching said in a press release that of all large land mammals, horses are particularly susceptible to West Nile.
“There are West Nile virus vaccines for horses, and horse owners should talk to their vets about getting their animals immunized.”
There is no vaccine, treatment, medication, or cure for either Chikungunya or West Nile in humans. In serious cases, doctors focus on relieving the symptoms and preventing secondary infections.
In Canada, 42 people have died from West Nile since 2002. West Nile in humans has been documented in every province in the country except for the Territories and the Atlantic provinces.
The Chikungunya virus, which first appeared in southern Tanzania in 1952, has spread beyond Africa and since 2005 has caused outbreaks and numerous fatalities in India and the French island of Reunion. It has also surfaced in France and Italy.
“Unlike West Nile virus, where nine out of 10 people are going to be totally asymptomatic or may have a mild headache or a stiff neck, if you get Chikungunya you’re going to be sick,” said Dr. James Diaz of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Speaking at a meeting on airlines, airports, and disease transmission in Washington D.C. on Friday, Diaz said the virus is already “hyper-endemic” in the islands of the Indian Ocean—a popular tourist destination.
“Travel by air will import the infected mosquitoes and humans,” he said. “Chikungunya is coming.”
Cities with large impoverished populations and badly maintained water systems, such as Mexico City and Mumbai, could serve as breeding grounds for the disease, Diaz said.
Carried by the Asian tiger mosquito, Chikungunya causes an abrupt onset of fever frequently accompanied by joint and muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, rash, and headache.
Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain can last for several months or even years. The disease can lead to death in older individuals.
“At present there is no cause for alarm regarding Chikungunya in Canada, but we are aware of outbreaks in Asia and Europe,” said Caroline Grondin, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Grondin said that while the Asian tiger mosquito is not currently in Canada, the pest can be found in some southern U.S. states. The mosquito becomes infected by feeding on a person who has the virus.
“The spread of the virus to Canada would depend on the establishment of the vector as well as the import of the virus in an infected person during a period warm enough for transmission from that infected person, via mosquitoes, to other people,” she said.
Since the mosquito also carries dengue fever and malaria, Diaz warned of possible double-infections involving Chikungunya and these diseases.
Although native to the Southeast Asian tropics, the Asian tiger mosquito has adapted to cooler temperatures which allows it to live year-round in moderate climates. Currently the pest exists on every continent except Antarctica.
B.C.’s first indigenous human cases of West Nile occurred in British Columbia in August when two people became infected. And last week, B.C. also confirmed its first locally acquired cases of West Nile virus in horses.
“This is not a surprising development,” said Dr. Paul Kitching, chief veterinarian and branch director at B.C’s Animal Health Centre. “British Columbia has long anticipated the arrival of West Nile virus, and now it’s in multiple regions of the province.”
Kitching said in a press release that of all large land mammals, horses are particularly susceptible to West Nile.
“There are West Nile virus vaccines for horses, and horse owners should talk to their vets about getting their animals immunized.”
There is no vaccine, treatment, medication, or cure for either Chikungunya or West Nile in humans. In serious cases, doctors focus on relieving the symptoms and preventing secondary infections.
In Canada, 42 people have died from West Nile since 2002. West Nile in humans has been documented in every province in the country except for the Territories and the Atlantic provinces.
