The Gunya Is Gonna Getcha

Little Chikungunya carrying bastard

Chikungunya (pronunciation: \chik-en-gun-ye or  the holy shit I better not get that) virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of Chikungunya virus infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, Chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas on islands in the Caribbean. There is a risk that the virus will be imported to new areas by infected travelers. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Chikungunya virus infection.

Malaria be dammed. The new kid on the block is a little bastard of a virus. Now before you get all up in arms about the tropical diseases that can ravage the body when traveling abroad take a look at the map below. These are the countries where the Gunya has been reported, although I am a bit confused about Canada. Do mosquitoes get to the boarder and say "we are not heading to Canada, it's to cold" and turn around and head to Alaska? Are they afraid to fight with our northern Alberta bush mosquitoes which are the size of small birds? (I have lived to tell the tale) or do we slop on so much sun screen and bug repellent it's not worth their effort? I think someone in the Canadian CDC is keeping a seeeeeeecret.

More good news...

• Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people by two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both species are found in the southeastern United States and limited parts of the Southwest; Aedes albopictus is also found further north up the East Coast, through the Mid-Atlantic States, and is also found in the lower Midwest.
• People infected with chikungunya virus typically develop fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include muscle aches, headaches, joint swelling or rash. This virus is not spread person to person. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for infection.
• The best way to protect yourself and your family from chikungunya is to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, using air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside, and reducing mosquito breeding ground such as standing water.

I have seen  people suffer from the Gunya. A few at the hostel that I am staying at make it a bit close for comfort. The good news is it is not contagious. The bad news is the skeeter bastards are everywhere. The good news (??) is the government sends trucks twice a month up and down each street spraying a lovely heavy chemical into each house and along each street. I do not know who scatters faster, the mosquitoes or the humans. Also, It's 35 degrees Celsius with 85% humidity. I am not about to start wearing long pants, long sleeves or long underwear. Bug spray is oddly, or depending on your viewpoint, conveniently expensive. I can get a beer at Via Via on Wednesday's (2 for 1 day) for .57, yes 57 cents. A can of off is about $7. I am hoping the little buzzy germ carriers latch onto me and realize the dangers of my blood alcohol lever and take off.

There are other things to worry about. Insane drivers, potholes in the sidewalks, flash floods in the streets, dehydration, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, heat stroke, and forgetting to update your 90 day tourist visa.