Chikungunya: What you need to know about the mosquito-borne virus

Canada AM: Chikungunya outbreak in Caribbean Microbiologist Dr. Allison McGeer says its possible we could see the virus in Canada, it's just a wait and see approach now.

If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean this summer, beware of chikungunya, a fast-spreading mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe, lasting joint pain.

Since the virus first appeared in parts of the Caribbean and Central America last December, it has infected more than 260,000 people and some U.S. travellers have returned home with chikungunya. But it's not clear whether the virus-carrying mosquitoes could be heading north.

“It’s possible that we could see it in Canada,” Dr. Allison McGeer, director of infection control at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, told CTV’s Canada AM Thursday.

“We really don’t have a good idea yet of how far it’s going to spread.”

There is currently no threat in Canada. But the federal government has issued travel notices since the chikungunya outbreaks began, warning Canadian travellers in the Caribbean to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Here’s what you need to know about chikungunya:

How is the virus transmitted?

Chikunguya spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Only certain types of mosquito species carry the virus.

What is behind the sudden spread of chikungunya?

The virus was first detected in Tanzania in the early 1950s and has since spread to parts of Asia and the Americas.

“Until recently it was not a big deal,” McGeer told CTV’s Canada AM. But in recent years, the virus changed and a new species of mosquitoes started spreading around the world. The combination of those two factors has led to chikungunya outbreaks in Africa and the Americas, McGeer said.

The number of cases of chikungunya disease has been growing in the Caribbean and Central America since December 2013.

What are the symptoms?

People infected with the virus typically experience fever, skin rash, and joint pain. Symptoms usually begin three to seven days after infection, but can take up to 12 days to appear.

While most people fully recover after a few days, the elderly and young children can experience more severe illness, McGeer said. Chikungunyais rarely fatal, but can lead to lasting or chronic joint pain in some cases, she said.

How do I protect myself?

There is currently no vaccine or treatment for chikungunya. Travellers' best defence is to protect themselves from mosquito bites by covering up, using insect repellent, and sleeping under a bed net, if possible.