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Mosquito-Borne Fever Appears in Caribbean Countries

In our highly connected world, diseases that have been considered exotic may soon reach nearby areas. The World Health Organization is reporting that chikungunya virus, transmitted by mosquito bites, has reached the Caribbean islands. Previously this virus was found in Asia and Africa, but not in the Americas.

The symptoms include headache, high fever and joint pain that can be debilitating. The only known way to fight back against chikungunya is to avoid mosquito bites or control the mosquitoes. Both are theoretically possible but difficult to achieve. The mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya virus already live in many parts of the US, so it may be only a matter of time before health authorities here are fighting its spread.

 

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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