HEALTH ALERT: 10th chikungunya case confirmed

A HEALTH alert has been issued by Panama’s Ministry of Health (MoH), after the detection in Calidonia on Wednesday, July 23 of the 10th case of chikungunya virus transmitted by female mosquitos
Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. In addition to fever and severe joint pain it causes other symptoms such as muscle aches, headaches, nausea, fatigue and rash. 

The joint pains are often very debilitating, but usually disappear within a few days. Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may last several months or even years. Occasional cases have been reported with ocular, neurological and cardiac complications, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Serious complications are rare, but in older people the disease can contribute to death.
The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected female mosquitoes. Generally mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species that can also transmit other viruses, including dengue. These mosquitoes usually bite during the day and its activity may be high early in the morning and late afternoon. Both species bite outdoors, but the Aedes aegypti can also do it indoors.
The disease usually appears between 4 and 8 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, but the range can be between 2 and 12 days.
More information is available on the official website of the World Health Organization.