What the Heck Is Chikungunya?

July 18, 2014— -- intro:First of all, it’s pronounced chick-en-gun-yuh.

Now that the first locally-acquired cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been reported in Florida, you’re probably wondering what is and why you should care. So we broke it down.

quicklist: 1category: title: Why you might not have heard of iturl:text:The chikungunya virus is new to the Americas, though it’s long been found in Asia, Africa and Europe. It was discovered in the Caribbean islands late last year, and has since made its way to the continental United States by way of mosquito-bitten travelers returning from vacation.

Before July 15, there were 357 reported cases of chikungunya in the United States, including 121 in Puerto Rico, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though the Puerto Ricans contracted chikungunya locally, every other case was acquired outside the U.S.

The Florida Department of Health reported Wednesday that 81 residents had contracted chikungunya while traveling to the Caribbean. And Thursday, two people who hadn’t traveled were diagnosed with the illness. This means that local mosquitos are spreading the virus.

Chikungunya is not spread person-to-person, but rather person-to-mosquito-to-person.

Chikungunya Virus Sparks Warning in Tennessee

quicklist: 2category: title: Why you want to avoid iturl:text:Ashley Manning, one of a dozen people in Georgia who contracted the virus while traveling, called the symptoms “fiercely unpleasant.” She said her fever reached 103 degrees and her joint pain was excruciating.

“I just thought I wasn't going to be able to walk, like I was going to constantly going to have these pains,” Manning told ABC affiliate WFTV in Atlanta. "My joints were hurting really bad and I was like getting really out of breath and like having a fever.”

Chikungunya’s most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it can also cause headaches, muscle pain and a rash. It isn’t fatal, but it can resemble dengue fever, another mosquito-borne virus.

It takes up to a week for symptoms to appear after a person has been bitten, according to the CDC. Most people feel better in about a week, but some experience joint pain for several months.

Georgia Woman Describes Crippling Pain of Chikungunya Virus

quicklist: 3category: title: How you can protect yourselfurl:text:In Florida, residents have been advised to drain standing water. The mosquitos that carry chikungunya lay eggs in small water containers and bite during the daytime. To keep mosquitos outdoors, the state health department recommends repairing broken screens on windows and doors.

Residents also been advised to wear long sleeves and pants outdoors and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon, eucalyptus and IR3535, according to the Florida Department of health.

How to Protect Against Chikungunya Virus