The World Health Organization has issued a new warning about the chikungunya virus as it spreads beyond its traditional regions, raising fears of an epidemic on par with the outbreak of 2004–2005 that infected nearly half a million people. Originally identified in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya has circulated mainly in Africa and Asia but is now spreading to Europe and beyond. Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the virus causes fever and severe joint pain, with WHO estimating that 5.6 billion people in 119 countries are currently at risk. “We are seeing history repeating itself,” said Diana Rojas Alvarez of the WHO.

The concern goes beyond chikungunya itself. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, West Nile, and chikungunya are responsible for nearly 800,000 deaths each year globally, and warming climates are expanding mosquito habitats into new regions. While there are no direct treatments for chikungunya, two vaccines are now available in the U.S., and basic medications like acetaminophen can help ease symptoms. Experts stress that prevention—through mosquito control, awareness, and vaccination where available—is the most effective safeguard as the threat of mosquito-driven epidemics grows.

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SOURCE: Yahoo