Nasty Mosquito-borne Chikungunya Virus is Coming Out of Africa

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The United States and Europe face a new health threat from a mosquito-borne disease far more unpleasant than the West Nile virus that swept into North America a decade ago, a U.S. expert said on Friday.

Chikungunya virus has spread beyond Africa since 2005, causing outbreaks and scores of fatalities in India and the French island of Reunion. It also has been detected in Italy, where it has begun to spread locally, as well as France.

"Unlike West Nile virus, where nine out of 10 people are going to be totally asymptomatic, or may have a mild headache or a stiff neck, if you get Chikungunya you're going to be sick," he said. "The disease can be fatal. .. "There is no vaccine."

The virus could spread globally now because it can be carried by the Asian tiger mosquito, ...(which) tends to live in southern regions east of the Mississippi but has been found as far afield as western Texas, Minnesota and New Jersey.


Mosquito-borne African virus a new threat to West