Caribbean chikungunya spreading

Tens of thousands of new cases of chikungunya fever were reported in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in late June and early July.

The virus, which causes fever, joint pain and skin rash, is spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms usually last for a few days but sometimes can persist for weeks. Though the disease is rarely fatal, 21 deaths in the Caribbean have been attributed to it.

There have been more than 265,000 confirmed cases of the disease in the Caribbean since the outbreak began in December 2013. More than half have occurred in the Dominican Republic, which has responded by increasing fumigation efforts.

Other islands reporting cases are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Turks & Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

On the mainland, El Salvador has recorded 1,300 cases, with others reported in Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, Venezuela and the US. Travelers returning to Paraguay and France from Caribbean locations have tested positive for the virus.

There is no vaccine or cure for chikungunya. Preventing mosquito bites by using insect repellent and protective clothing can help avoid infection.