Mosquito-borne African virus a new threat to West

Reuters ^ | Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:53pm EDT | David Morgan

[null and void]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Europe face a new health threat from a mosquito-borne disease far more unpleasant than the West Nile virus.

Chikungunya virus has spread beyond Africa since 2005, causing outbreaks and scores of fatalities in India and the French island of Reunion. It also has been detected in Italy, where it has begun to spread locally, as well as France.

Unlike West Nile virus, where nine out of 10 people are going to be totally asymptomatic, or may have a mild headache or a stiff neck, if you get Chikungunya you're going to be sick.

The disease can be fatal. It's a serious disease, there is no vaccine.

Chikungunya infection causes fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash and joint pain. Symptoms can last a few weeks, though some suffers have reported incapacitating joint pain or arthritis lasting months.

It is hyper-endemic in the islands of the Indian Ocean.

The spread of the disease could be greatest in so-called mega-cities such as Mumbai and Mexico City, which have large and impoverished populations, poor health controls and water systems that provide ready breeding grounds for mosquitoes, Diaz said.

[R_Kangel]

"Mosquito-borne African virus a new threat to West"

Because this thing is from Africa, I feel we should just embrace it....otherwise we would be totally racist!

Welcome little African immigrants! Welcome to America.

[dalebert]

they used to do a better job of keeping these contained.

[I see my hands]

"Because this thing is from Africa, I feel we should just embrace it....otherwise we would be totally racist"

I’m going to have sex with a mosquito as soon as I can!

[MHGinTN]

Riiiiiight. We’ve got one large and several smaller visitors from Africa sucking our life’s blood, what’s a few more?

[null and void]

In my childhood it was a jeep with a couple MPs...

[blam]

"Chikungunya infection causes fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash and joint pain. Symptoms can last a few weeks, though some suffers have reported incapacitating joint pain or arthritis lasting months. "

I think I just figured out what's bothering me.(ahem)

[b4its2late]

We need DDT

[1ofmanyfree]

Swine flue to be blamed blamed?

[TigersEye]

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[VanShuyten]

Different regions become culturally mature at different times. Two thousand years ago, the Scandinavians were a backwater group living in mud huts and savaging their neighbors. After a thousand years, after being told how to make iron, they learned how to build houses and ships out of wood and then began savaging others. The Scandinavians at that time gave the world nothing but steel and blood. These days, they give us Volvos, Saabs, dynamite and socialism.

Most Africans I meet are nice people. Africans just have never tasted freedom and free markets.

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[murphE]

I want my DDT.

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping....

Also, keep up with H1N1 update stories on this thread: H1N1 flu victim collapsed on way to hospital [Latest H1N1 updates downthread] thanks to DvdMom and others.

[Dick Bachert]

Ahhh, another gift from the dark continent.

Like Obozo.

[glock rocks]

The spread of the disease could be greatest in so-called mega-cities such as Mumbai and Mexico City, which have large and impoverished populations, poor health controls and water systems that provide ready breeding grounds for mosquitoes

Well, ain't this just dandy? This here is a RACIST disease, attacking turd world mega-cities and all... you can almost hear the liberal orgasmic acclaim for this virus...

[null and void]

Does ANYTHING good come from Africa? Anything?

Coffee.

[Old Professer]

Climate Change...

[OB1kNOb]

I heard that there is a weevil in Asia that will make you vomit just by looking at it.

I'm conducting a brief study to test that theory.....