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In the News- Chikungunya Fever in Italy
Monday 17-Sep-2007
This information is current as of today, September 16, 2007 at 02:42
Updated: September 11, 2007
Italian Health authorities have recently reported 166 cases of chikungunya fever (27 laboratory confirmed) in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, in northeast Italy. The villages of Castiglione di Ravenna and Castiglione di Cervia have reported most of the cases. Tests confirm that local mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting the infection. This is the first time that local transmission of chikungunya virus through mosquitoes has been detected in Europe. Therefore, travelers to the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, should take steps to avoid mosquito bites (see advice below). Travelers should also be aware of the symptoms of chikungunya fever.
Chikungunya fever is a viral disease spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain with or without swelling, low back pain, and rash.
Recommendations
Travelers to the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, in northeast Italy should keep in mind the following:
� Use insect repellent on exposed skin surfaces when outdoors, particularly during the day.
o Repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults. Lower concentrations of DEET offer shorter-term protection and require more frequent reapplication.
o Repellents containing picaridin are available in the United States in formulations of up to 15% concentration, which require frequent reapplication. Repellents with higher concentrations of picaridin may be available in some regions outside the United States.
o For additional information regarding the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the �Insect and Other Arthropod Protection� in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children and the �Children� section of 'CDCs Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use .
� Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
o Clothing may also be sprayed with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for greater protection. (Remember: don't use permethrin on skin.)
� Where possible, stay in hotels or resorts that are well screened or air conditioned and take measures to reduce the mosquito population.
� Reduce mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water that may have collected in containers (e.g., uncovered barrels, flower vases, or cisterns) and either overturning the vessels or covering the opening.
� If illness develops, for the first week of illness, avoid mosquito bites to avoid spreading the infection to local mosquitoes which could then transmit it to other people.
These preventive measures are the same steps that one would take to reduce the risk of other mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases, such as dengue, malaria, and yellow fever.
Treatment
No specific drug treatment against chikungunya fever is available; thus, care is focused on treating the symptoms of chikungunya fever; bed rest, fluids, and mild pain medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen (paracetamol) may relieve symptoms of fever and aching, provided that there are no medical reasons not to use these medications. Because aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding and possibly increase the risk for Reye's syndrome , it should be avoided during the illness. Few cases are severe enough to warrant hospitalization. All persons with chikungunya fever should be protected against additional mosquito bites to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus
We recommend that you consult one of our clinics as soon
as your itinerary is known so that a program of vaccination can be planned.
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