Outbreak of Chikungunya

Haiti - Health : Outbreak of Chikungunya, gold business for some...
25/05/2014 10:34:33

Since the confirmation of cases of Chikungunya by the Ministry of Health, May 6, the Ministry said to have identified 5,155 cases in Haiti, 70% in the West department.

Recall that the Chikungunya is an infectious disease caused by an arbovirus of the family "Togaviridae" transmitted by mosquitoes. This disease is characterized by fever sudden onset and high, excruciating joint pain particularly in the hands and feet, feeling very tired, headache, sometimes accompanied by rashes and nausea. People with these symptoms (including fever for more than 5 days) should consult in a hospital or health center. Please note that There is no effective drug against chikungunya, 
The treatment of the disease is only symptomatic and relies mainly on the administration of drugs painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol treatment. Diclofenac and Aspirin should be avoided because of the risk of hemorrhage. 

In health centers and pharmacies, people form long queues seeking care or medication a situation that has attracted the interest of crooks, who do not hesitate to propose in the street paracetamol counterfeit, while the price of the orignal medicine in packs of 10 tablets, in some pharmacies has undergone an "opportunistic" increase of over 200% !

The Ministry is asking owners and managers of pharmacies to respect the price, as they were before the outbreak of Chikungunya, to facilitate access of the drug to small grants.

Any offender will fall under the sanctions of the law for this purpose."

Learn more about chikungunya :
The name chikungunya, of makondée origin, means "that curves, that huddles" or "the man bent disease" because the disease causes very severe joint pain associated with stiffness, which gives infected patients a curved characteristic attitude. Chikungunya (chik) is an infectious disease caused by an arbovirus of the family "Togaviridae" transmitted by mosquitoes. Several species of mosquitoes can transmit chikungunya, but only Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have so far been identified as epidemic vectors, note that these species are also involved in the transmission of other arboviruses such as: dengue, dengue fever hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, etc...

The first symptoms of the disease (incubation) occur 2-6 days after the person has been infected and starts suddenly with a high fever usually associated with severe joint pain and transient rash. These symptoms are sometimes accompanied by muscle aches, headaches, digestive disorders. Chikungunya is a disabling disease not only because of the pain but also due to fatigue it causes in more than half of the patients. In some patients, the effects, particularly rheumatological, may persist for several months or even several years. There is no effective drug against chikungunya. The treatment of the disease is only symptomatic and relies mainly on the administration of drugs painkillers and anti-inflammatory treatments. Diclofenac and Aspirin should be avoided because of the risk of hemorrhage.

Article copied from: http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11224-haiti-health-outbreak-of-chikungunya-gold-business-for-some.html


We know so many Haitians and missionaries who had and have chikungunya. We are so thankful -again - for God's protection on our lives. Please continue to cover us and others with your prayers. Thank you. God bless you all!