Chikungunya: What To Know Before You Go

A great vacation is a mix of discovery and preparation. The excitement around what you will find and capture is enough to get any seasoned traveller moving, but in the midst of packing, planning and posting, overlooking some very simple steps in preparation can lead to seriously unplanned disasters—especially with your health.Take it from me. In 2009 after bringing in the new year on the beaches of Roatan, Honduras I came back to the 'States with a TON of mosquito bites, a tan and little did I know, a nasty strain of malaria. With that, the first website I now check before booking any trip isn't Trip Advisor — it's the Center For Disease Control to see if any health advisories exist about my intended destination. And if you plan on traveling anywhere in the Caribbean this year, it should be your first stop too because there is a new(ish) virus on the scene. It's name is Chikungunya or chik-V and while confined to minor outbreaks throughout Africa and South Asia for over 60 years, chik-V is now in the western hemisphere and spreading rapidly.In late 2013 after a noticeable outbreak in St. Martin, the disease has now been reported in the following countries*:Anguilla / Antigua / British Virgin Islands / Dominica / Dominican Republic / French Guiana / Guadeloupe / Guyana / Haiti / Martinique / Puerto Rico / Saint Barthelemy / Saint Kitts / Saint Lucia / Saint Martin (French) / Saint Vincent and the Grenadines / Sint Maarten (Dutch) / Suriname / Trinidad & Tobago / Turks & Caicos / US Virgin IslandsAdditionally, cases are now being reported in Brasil, Florida, Mississippi and Texas from people who were traveling throughout the Caribbean. While this is alarming, there have been no international causes for concerns just yet. Even still, the CDC has issued a Watch Level 1 advisory for the disease. In short, this means that the international medical community is concerned and observing, but there is no need for panic and mobilization.Even if your destination is not listed here, double-check the CDC's Traveller's Heath website and research local newspapers who will report new cases online.Before you book that flight, take a look at this quick primer on chik-V, and what you can do to avoid it: >>What Is It?Discovered in Tanzania in 1952, chik-V is viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitos. Symptoms include high fever, rash and sore joints (worse if you already suffer from arthritis), partial loss of taste, nausea/vomiting and conjunctivitis. While fevers tend to last for two-three days, joint pain and insomnia can last for a week or so more. Symptoms normally appear after an incubation period of about three to twelve days. These symptoms may not seem to be too severe, but when you layer them on top of less-than-optimal health or another unchecked disease, the combination could prove to be quite serious. With that said, travelers who suffer from arthritis, who are pregnant or who suffer from any medical condition should consult with their doctor before taking off.How Do You Get It?Skeeters! Chik-V can only be transferred from mosquito to person, not person to person.How Do I Treat It?There is no medical treatment or vaccination for chik-V, although a proper diagnosis and medical monitoring is best as untreated cases can lead to long-term inflammation and infections.How Do I Avoid It?Protection. In general, any arthropod-borne virus is quite nasty (think: Malaria, Dengue, Yellow Fever, etc) so mosquito proofing yourself is your best bet whenever traveling to a mosquito-heavy area like the Caribbean. And while I tend to lean towards more natural remedies and methods when it comes to mother earth, I blend my principles when it comes to mosquitos and pull out the big guns: DEET & Lemon Eucalyptus aka OLE. Essentially, anytime you see either of these ingredients in your repellent with high percentages you are on the right track. My favorite mix starts with a full blast of a high DEET product like Sawyer Jungle Juice100 (which you should apply in an open room) and then I finish with Burt's Bees Herbal Repellant because I like to smell human, with spicy and sweet notes of lemon. Of course products like Cutter, Off! and more that contain lower levels DEET work well, use your best judgement for the country you are visiting and the activities you plan to do when you arrive. Remember to apply sunscreen before insect repellant so you don't sunburn while trying to remain healthy.See you in the sun (under the mosquito net and smelling like a bunch of repellant) this summer ladies. Safe travels!* As of June 17, 2014