A virus that caused China to implement strict covid-like measures following reports of 7,000 cases is now suspected to have made its way to the United States.
This dangerous mosquito-borne virus led to quarantines and restrictions in China over the summer and might now be present in New York. Health officials are investigating a potential locally acquired case.
A woman residing on Long Island tested positive for chikungunya in August, even though she claims she hasn’t traveled outside the island, which has a population of over eight million and includes the famous Hamptons area.
If verified, this would be the first instance of a locally acquired case in New York State.
The New York Department of Health stated to NTD News: “No locally acquired cases have ever been reported in New York State, and the risk to the public remains very low.”
Authorities are collaborating with local entities to confirm test results and assess mosquito populations in the vicinity. Currently, the virus hasn’t been detected in local mosquitoes.
Chikungunya, transmitted through mosquito bites, is known for causing severe joint pain, often incapacitating sufferers for weeks, months, or even years.
The Long Island woman, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed her symptoms to reporters, describing excruciating pain from her feet to her shoulders, as if her joints were on fire and being pulled apart.
She became ill on August 21.
Since the start of the year, over 317,000 cases and 135 deaths have been reported across 16 countries.
In China, an outbreak of more than 10,000 cases led to measures similar to those used during Covid – patients were quarantined, and non-compliance was met with electricity cut-offs.
The virus has been spreading globally and is often found in parts of Africa, South America, and Asia, recently appearing in Europe and the United States.
In the U.S., there have typically been small, travel-related cases, with the last known local transmission occurring in 2019 in Florida and Texas.
Symptoms usually manifest within a week of being bitten and include fever, joint pain, and, in rare situations, severe complications affecting the heart or brain.
For residents of New York, the risk remains low for now. However, if confirmed, the Long Island case could signify the emergence of another mosquito-borne virus.