Canada issues travel advisory for the Caribbean due to chikungunya

The introduction of the first locally acquired chikungunya fever infections began with two cases in Saint Martin in the French Caribbean in early December.

The latest numbers from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) as of today is 290 confirmed and probable cases.

This has prompted the Public Health Agency of Canada to issue a travel advisory on Jan. 15 for citizens going to the Caribbean islands.

Confirmed cases have been reported from the following islands: Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy and the British Virgin Islands.

Health officials offer the following recommendations for travelers to prevent mosquito bites– cover skin with clothing items like long sleeved shirts and long pants, use insect repellant containing DEET and sleep in well screened or completely enclosed rooms.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a similar travel warning in December.

LISTEN: Chikungunya in the Western Hemisphere: An interview with a CDC expert

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) Fact Sheet, Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.

There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya.

The CDC notes there is currently no vaccine or medicine to prevent chikungunya.

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