The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) has received confirmation of its third chikungunya case in a 38-year-old male who traveled to the Caribbean in July. The mosquito-borne viral infection is characterized by a high fever, severe chronic joint pain and fatigue. There have been 87 confirmed travel-associated cases in Florida in 2014, as of July 19.

None of the Pinellas cases were acquired locally, but two Florida cases were locally acquired in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes; these mosquitoes also transmit dengue virus. They bite mostly during the daytime. There's no treatment or vaccine available.

Infected persons are advised to avoid mosquito bites while they're ill to prevent transmission to someone else. Chikungunya is not carried by person-to-person contact.

Persons traveling to areas in the Caribbean can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. Steps would include using insect repellent and staying in places with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.

Infants, older adults and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease are at risk for more severe forms of the disease.
The incubation period can range from one to 12 days after a bite from an infected mosquito.

To protect yourself from mosquitoes, follow the Drain and Cover formula:

For information about chikungunya, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's information page at https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/. For information about DOH-Pinellas, go to www.PinellasHealth.com.