Holiday Claims: Crippling Chikungunya Virus Afflicts 'Paradise Island' of Mauritius
Holidaymakers are at risk of suffering from the chikungunya virus visiting Mauritius and travel agents are negligent in failing to warn them of the dangers.
London, England (PRWEB) July 22, 2006
A crippling mosquito-borne disease which has already ravaged the holiday island of Reunion has now moved to the favourite honeymoon destination of nearby Mauritius which is visited by more than 90,000 British holidaymakers every year.
Seventy seven people have already died on Mauritius from the chikungunya virus -- the name is a Swahili word for "that which bends up" - referring to the stooped posture of those afflicted -- and more than 6,000 cases have been reported on the islands with a rapid escalation predicted later in the year.
The virus causes fever, joint and muscle pain, headache and a rash in most, but 12 per cent of people who contract the disease are left with a stooping posture and crippling joint pain which can last for three years. The disease recurs sporadically but severely in these sufferers through the period rendering them only capable of moving with extreme pain.
Extensive coverage of the disease in the French press has meant many French holidaymakers have chosen to holiday elsewhere, but injurywatch, an advice service which specialises in holiday injury and illness claims, is concerned that travel agents in the UK are failing to provide any warning of the disease and the Foreign Office travel advice only makes brief mention of it.
"That no warning or advice is being given by travel agents is negligent and the Foreign Office advisory is ridiculously week," says Christopher Lodge, a holiday lawyer with injurywatch. Mr Lodge, who is married to a French national and follows the French media cancelled a trip to Reunion at the behest of his wife earlier in the year.
"At the very minimum they should be advising people of the symptoms. The Foreign Office says that the prevalence of the disease is diminishing, but that is because of the mosquito's life-cycle is currently in the downturn. The experience in Reunion was that once it is in the host mosquito population it becomes more prevalent year on year.
"Similar levels in to what Mauritius is experiencing escalated to more than 80,000 cases in Reunion peaking at 15,000 new cases a week between December and March. Because it is in the southern hemisphere Mauiritius is a winter destination and people are booking now."
Dr Blaise Genton, from the University of Lausanne who conducted a study into the virus, have advised anyone travelling to the islands to take preventative measures against mosquitoes and says vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the old and families with young children should avoid the area altogether.
There is no cure or vaccine for chikungunya and travellers from regions where the mosquito is not prevalent such as Britain are particularly at risk.
For more on this story and interview contacts, please contact injurywatch on 0800 066 99 07 opt2.
Http://www. injurywatch. co. uk (http://www. injurywatch. co. uk)
Chikungunya Facts
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus. The vector mosquito is a day-biter called 'Aedes Albopictus.'
How is Chikungunya transmitted?
The disease is transmitted during the day, when the mosquito bites someone infected by Chikungunya and then contaminates other persons who are bitten in turn.
Is human to human transmission possible in the disease?
No there is no direct transmission. A person who is infected by Chikungunya is not contagious.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
The symptoms generally appear 4 to 7 days after having been bitten by the mosquito. They are:
High fever that can go up to 39C. Muscular and joints; pain, mainly affecting the extremities of limbs. Swelling. Skin manifestations. Headache.
Is there any treatment for the disease?
There is no vaccine nor cure for Chikungunya. The only treatment is to take medicine to soothe symptoms such as fever and pain.
How to prevent Chikungunya?
Prevention is possible by controlling proliferation of mosquitoes in stagnant water. You need to avoid water retention by:
Eliminating any still water found on roofs Seeing to it that water pipes are not clogged Properly covering all water tanks so that mosquitoes cannot get in Getting rid of any container capable of retaining water in your outdoor surroundings (used tyres, food cans, garbage, saucers under flower pots, etc) Renew water in flower vases at least once a week Other precautions:
Wear clothes that suitably cover arms and legs Make use of mosquito nets Use mosquito repellent products (coils, sprays, topical lotions and creams)
What should be done if symptoms are found?
Head straight to your nearest Health Centre. Contact injurywatch
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