Blog 3: Caribbean Health

In the article “Canadian authorities issue health travel warning to the Caribbean”, the writer talks about a new mosquito-borne viral disease found in the Caribbean. There is a mosquito, chikungunya, that has caused a virus that originated in Africa and Asia, but it has now made its way to Europe, the Caribbean and now America. People that travel to these countries and continents need to be cautious of mosquito bites and also need to be aware for symptoms and treatments available. The symptoms associated with chikungunya virus are fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, pain and rashes. These symptoms can either be short term (day and weeks) or long term (months and years). It only causes death in very serious cases or sometimes in older people. There is actually no treatment available; one can only try to prevent the disease from even occurring. Most people that get this viral disease end up recovering from it fully even if the symptoms are present for a long time.

This article is very important in a global aspect because the viral disease affects many different people. The reason people wrote about this article is to make people, specifically Americans, aware of this disease. Many Americans travel to the Caribbean for vacation by cruise so it is important to know that this disease is prominent and where it is commonly found, so that they can sustain from getting it. Writers also wrote this article to give people an idea on how to prevent getting this disease since there is no known cure for it. The article states “Protect yourself from mosquito bites, particularly during peak mosquito biting times around sunrise and sunset.” It is very important to publicize this disease so that people can prevent themselves from getting it so that we do not spread the disease throughout other countries.  

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Canadian-authorities-issue-health-travel-warning-to-the-Caribbean