In Montpellier, France, local health authorities have confirmed that several members of one family have contracted the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus. This disease is not considered fatal, but is known to cause fever, joint pain, and headaches among other symptoms. These cases are the first positive reports of locally transmitted Chikungunya in the country following similar cases back in 2010. This disease is more commonly seen in countries across Africa and in South and Southeast Asia.
The World Health Organization said in a recent press release regarding the incident that it is most likely that the infections occurred in the areas surrounding a recent case of the same viral infection. Officials, however, confirm that this particular case was imported into the country by a patient who had recently travelled from Cameroon. The speculation of local transmission was also reinforced since there is no record showing that any of the infected members of the family had travelled to tropical regions before the onset of the disease. It typically takes four to seven days following the mosquito bite for the signs and symptoms of this viral infection to emerge, and no corresponding travel itineraries were seen for any of the patients for 15 days preceding their infection.
Currently, there is no cure for this disease, but the symptoms may be relieved with medication. French local health officials are now said to be implementing several preventive measures to avoid further cases of Chikungunya in Montpellier, including the use of insecticide sprays and fumigation procedures to control the mosquito vector population around the area.
Chikungunya is a viral infection that is transferred from one person to another by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. Both species are also carriers of the dengue virus. Disease experts tag the A. albopictus mosquito as the main mosquito vector that spreads the disease in tropical regions. It is believed to have been responsible for the first cases of Chikungunya reported during the 1950s in Mozambique and Tanzania.
