Little
did we know that aside from dengue, there are many other life-threatening
mosquito-borne diseases that have hounded Filipinos for decades. Though there is no vaccine available in
the country to cure these illnesses, preventive measures are available to
assure safety of adults and children alike.
Last October, the
Department of Health (DOH) warned the public to take extra precautions against the
chikungunya virus. The DOH
confirmed that there were 150 recorded cases of this dengue-like disease last
month. And last year, more than
1,000 cases of chikungunya were recorded in the country.
The
origin
Chikungunya is a
mosquito-borne virus first reported in Africa in 1952 and has spread in Asia,
the Indian subcontinent, Europe and United States, infecting millions. Believed
to be derived from an East African dialect that means “to be contorted,”
chikungunya describes the curved posture of patients experiencing severe joint
pain.
Just like dengue, chikungunya virus was caused
primarily by Aedes aegypti, the
daytime biting mosquito and by Aedes albopictus, a species of mosquito that bites most actively at
night.
The warning signs
Chikungunya
shares some clinical signs with dengue as both manifest skin rashes and a high fever. Its most distinctive characteristic
though is severe joint pain which usually ends within a few days or weeks.
Although a number of patients fully recover after a few days or weeks, there
are some cases that joint pain or arthritis may persist for several months, or
even years. Another distinct factor between dengue and chikungunya is that the
former affects mostly children, while the later affects adults.
The transmission
DOH expressed fear
that the virus might spread more widely because it survives in temperate
climates, the Philippines included. Increases in global travel and climate change
might have encouraged its spread.
Though no vaccine or
specific treatment for the disease has been discovered yet and treatment is
focused on relieving the symptoms only, there are preventive measures against
the virus.
Level-up protection
Prevention and control rely heavily on
getting rid of the natural and artificial water-filled breeding grounds of the
mosquitoes. Unattended bottles,
cans and tires with water inside are the usual breeding grounds for mosquitoes,
and if left unchecked, a single pool of water can produce hundreds of
chikungunya virus-carrying mosquitoes.
Though clothing
which minimizes skin exposure to these vectors is advisable; it is more prudent
to use insect repellent lotions that can be applied anytime. And the most ideal
insect repellent lotion is one that is effective not only against daytime-biting
mosquitoes, but also mosquitoes that bite at night.
The new Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion is proven
effective against both day and night mosquitoes, known carriers of both the
dengue and chikungunya virus. It is ideal for
families because it has long-lasting protection of up to10 hours, is
hypoallergenic, and provides anti-bacterial protection that the Green Cross brand has always been known for.
The breakthrough
discovery on day and night dengue-lamok teaches us to level up our anti-dengue
measures. Now, with an additional threat on the move – chikungunya virus – this
further teaches us to act on an urgent threat: we need to change our mindsets and recognize the fact that
insect repellent lotion may effectively protect us against these
disease-carrying mosquitoes.
A single mosquito bite may be deadly. Do not let these pesky bugs come near
you or your loved ones. Use Green
Cross Insect Repellent Lotion as it may not only save your body from big red
marks but also from serious illnesses like the chikungunya virus.
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