Chikungunya

I know everyone is in the throes of ebola worry, but chik-v or "the 'gunya" has been the worry of many people in the US and BVI (as well as other Caribbean islands). This article on the decline of chikungunya is good news. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Lately, the talk regarding chik-v is way down, but I don't know that it really means that the incidence is way down. Best for everyone to continue to exercise due diligence and definitely try to avoid mosquito bites!

Here is an update: decline in cases on St Thomas, peaking on St Croix...

As an aside, Dr. Ellis has been busy providing information to the territory on both ebola and chikungunya. We are very lucky to have her. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Surprised the numbers on St. John are so low, compared to STT and ST. Croix. Is the population of St. John so much less or some other factors?

There's less outreach and reporting on St. John and the clinic there only has a doctor a couple of days a week. Nobody I know on STJ who has had Chik-V has reported.

Add in a population of 5,000 on STJ vs. 52,000 on STT. The goods are odd.

Cheers, RickG

OK, I wasn't sure what the population numbers are there on STJ. And it appears there really isn't a big advantage to the sufferer to be actually diagnosed with chick-v, as there is really nothing the doctor can do for you anyway.

Carol: That might be true(no reason to be diagnosed), but it is also true that people are saying "I've got chik-v" when they may have regular flu, dengue or something else. What is interesting is the actual numbers vs. the reported ones. As Rick said lots of people never go to the doctor. Heck, at the height of the outbreak, they were telling people to go home from the ER triage. If you are just going to treat symptoms and you are sure it isn't dengue hemorrhagic fever, then I guess it doesn't matter.