More Cases of Chikungunya In St Lucia

by John M
(Castries, St. Lucia)

Castries, Wednesday 7th May 2014:

The Ministry of Health in St Lucia is reporting 5 confirmed cases of the viral illness Chikungunya in St. Lucia.

The disease is new to the Caribbean and is similar to Dengue Fever which for it's part is endemic to the region.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the same precautions as with Dengue fever. Both have the Aedes Aegypti mosquito as the vector.

The illness is not life threatening. Feel free to contact your health care provider if you believe you may be presenting signs and symptoms of the illness. These include fever, headache, generalised weakness, loss of appetite and very painful and swollen joints.

Be on the look out then.