Chikungunya

I arrived safely at Notre Maison/St. Joe's after a VERY uneventful trip here.  Upon my arrival I learned that many of the kids and nannies are sick with the chikungunya virus.  Because so many nannies are out sick, Dixie--another guest and adoptive mom--and I helped with sick kids bathing them to bring the fever down, changing clothes when they threw up, and just holding the ones who cried.

I did quite a bit of research on the virus before coming, but for those of you who haven't heard of it, I've shared some information below.

• Chikungunya is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito carrying the chikungunya virus, mainly the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species.
• Mosquitoes that carry chikungunya virus bite mainly during the daytime.
• Symptoms can take up to 12 days to appear, but usually begin within 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
• They generally include fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and rash.
• Most people recover after a few days, though in some cases joint pain may persist for weeks or months. Gastrointestinal, eye, neurological and heart complications have sometimes been reported.
• Complications are rare but can be more common in infants, older travelers and people with chronic medical conditions (for example, diabetes, hypertension).

Other than keeping the mosquitoes from biting, there's really not much people can do to prevent getting the virus.  And, like with many other illnesses, the young and the elderly are most susceptible to complications.  

I should be okay.  Even if I get bitten by an infected mosquito, I am in good health and deal with the fever. 

 And, worse comes to worst? 

 I can always leave. 

 I can always head home to great medical care and an abundance of clean water to keep me hydrated.  

One of the many privileges of being an American.