Chikungunya/ChikV report

I've been a lurker on here for some time and have seen the posts worrying about ChikV and asking to hear from someone who has actually had it. So I thought I'd share my story.
I've heard people say it kinda like Dengue, from what I've heard from friends who've had Dengue that's far worse than my experience with the Chikungunya.
It started Thursday evening 3.5 weeks ago. I felt a pain in my wrist and wondered if it was my tendinitis acting up. An hour later my ankle start pain me. Same ankle that I've sprained bad a couple of times years ago. So now both my wrist and ankle hurt. Not too too bad still, just that annoying kinda pain. My mind run to think maybe I catch that Chikungunya thing, but not wanting it to be so.
I had my late night sub and want sleep. I slept for a couple of hours and woke up feeling chilly and emotional. I realize I have a fever and come to terms with the fact I now have Chikungunya. My mind was all over the place with thoughts on this here virus and how it will affect me in the long run.
I took some panadol and had another sub accompanied by water. Again I drop asleep. Next morning I was hopping around the house, pain in my ankles, feet, wrists and hands. This day was the worst one, and without painkillers in my system I couldn't uncork an unopened soda bottle. I cried and whimpered. Not so much due the pain but the fever. I deal very poorly with fever... My knees too started to ache, luckily not as bad the smaller joints. As I already stated, this was my worst day. However, it wasn't so bad that I was rendered completely useless. With panadol in my system I was able to bubble a pot of veggie soup. Which means I could stand up and chop veggies. With the same hands that couldn't open a bottle without panadol.
I got through the Friday with panadol and subs. Saturday was about the same but less fever which in my case is pretty good considering my emotional state. I'll take pain over fever any day!
I lost my appetite and, I can tell you for free, that rarely happens to me! I made sure to drink lots of water and teas and made sure the little I ate was as nutritious as possible.
Sunday I was completely rid of the fever and the pain started to subdue. Monday I was able and willing to leave the house. It might have been a little too soon, but I get so antsy. I spent the next couple of days relaxing. I'm here for a long time so for me to take some days resting isn't really a big deal. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything as I would have felt had I been here for two weeks. Then again, if two weeks was what I was working with I would be out and about after the fever broke. Sure I wasn't feeling a hundred and I'm thankful I had the time to rest those days. That being said, I know I would have been fine leaving the house.
The following Thursday or Friday the rash appeared. I was covered! It wasn't really that itchy, less than mosquito bites. I just looked ridiculous.
Luckily the rash started fading the next day and the day after that it was gone. I was ChikV free!!!

Alright, so this is my experience with it. To sum it up I'll say it wasn't worse than a bad flu. I've had the flu worse than this. Other symptoms I experienced were headache, conjunctivitis and a funny sensation in the skin of my palms and bottom of the feet. To describe the pain I would say it feels almost like a sprain. Especially the ankle. Given that my ankle have been sprained badly before I'm used to it sometimes acting up. The ankle was the last pain to go and I'll admit I sometimes feel it pain me up, like today.

I see some of you are considering canceling your trip. I understand that given all the information online coming your way. I can't tell you what do to but I can share what I would do knowing what I now know. You can only catch Chikungunya once(although some have experienced relapse) so I'm now immune. Had that not been the case I still wouldn't cut my trip short ( I'm here till March) and I would keep coming back. Would I risk it for a two weeks vacation? Yes, I most definitely would! It's not like I recommend catching the thing, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. But it wasn't hell neither. I was just sick.
I know everyone gets it different, some worse than others. Either I got off easy or I just deal well with being sick. Except the fever, fever makes me cry.
Which ever way you look at it, Chikungunya will now be endemic in not just Jamaica but all of the Caribbean.

Bottom line for me, I'd risk it.

Additional information: It took me well over a month and plenty of bites to catch it.

When people are coming to the island, just make sure you have insect repellant with you and use it day and night. They have some lovely natural ones available if the more chemical ones are not your style. There are never any guarantees that it won't happen, but it can help by taking the time to make sure you are protected.

Thanks for that Inity .

Im in two minds coming down but will probably .Im gonna bring some johnson & johnson mosquito repellent (they use it on babies in asia) & have also booked an appointment at the doctors for the flu jab (I hope it works ) & have told my DR im going to India ;)so will need some shots .

Hi Inity, thanks for your report. Sounds similar to the experience of a friend who had it.

This was very informative. I won't be cancelling my vacation but will definitely be wearing repellent.

I'm wondering if mosquito coils will help? I found some in my camping kit. I'm not sure I will find any in the stores right now, since it is "off" season, but I will be looking. I'm planning on bringing the little coil holder and will have it smoking near our chairs. I might look ridiculous, I've loaded up on insect repellent of different varieties and plan on plastering it on frequently. Maybe some citronella candles toooooo? laugh out loud-anything is worth a try.

There is no problem getting coils as far as I can see. The Indian behind Valuemaster has those electric rackets to zap them.

I always take and burn coils on my trips.... Wouldn't be the same without the smell of my burning coils in the evening...

Were you using insect repellent morning noon and night?

We've increased our use of insect repellent the last couple of months and so far so good...neither one of us has had chikungunya. There are affordable brands here that work well...we've been using Bunny's brand which is priced under 400J.

The ministry had already been fogging previously around Negril & other areas...which may be a factor, along with hotels doing they're own fogging, in keeping the number of cases fairly low in Negril.
Recently, we've had the national emergency called...which thankfully frees up more money to continue to keep the mosquitoes at bay, etc.

For all you weenies who are so afraid of the big bad Chik-V virus and are cancelling vacations or are afraid to go to Jamaica - here is one for you in the good old USA - the Kissing Bug has infected over 300,000 people already - AND IT IS DEADLY ! ! !

A deadly disease called Chagas has been estimated to have infected at least 300,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This infection is transferred by the “kissing bug” and is contracted when the bug bites its sleeping victims, takes their blood, and then deposits its feces where the unaware victim rubs it into the open wound.
The disease can remain in the victim’s blood for over 20 years before it manifests symptoms. The first stage of the disease has few symptoms, and they can seem like symptoms of other illnesses, with fever, fatigue, achiness, headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Those symptoms can last for weeks or months, but the second stage can trigger an enlarged heart, heart failure, altered heart rate or rhythm, cardiac arrest, or enlarged esophagus or colon.
Melissa Nolan Garcia, from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said of the first stage, "People don't normally feel sick, so they don't seek medical care, but it ultimately ends up causing heart disease in about 30 percent of those who are infected." Garcia added that there may be more than 2,000 congenital cases through mother-to-child transmission.
Garcia’s team studied 17 blood donors in Texas who had the parasite that causes Chagas disease. She said, “The concerning thing is that majority of the patients [I spoke to] are going to physicians, and the physicians are telling them, ‘No you don’t have the disease'… A lot of the cardiologists were aware of Chagas disease, but they don’t make the connection when the patient is sitting in front of them.”
The actual parasite causing the disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Roughly eight million people have the disease; most are unaware they have it.
The CDC says that the bulk of victims in the U.S. have visited Latin America, and that’s where they picked up the bug. But Garcia said the parasite has arrived in the U.S. She said, "We are finding new evidence that locally acquired human transmission is occurring in Texas. We were surprised to find that 36 percent had evidence of being a locally acquired case. Additionally, 41 percent of this presumably healthy blood donor population had heart abnormalities consistent with Chagas cardiac disease."
The Washington, D.C. area has been hit; with about two dozen cases reported.
Dr. Rachel Marcus, a cardiologist, says the vast number of immigrants from Bolivia residing in the Northern Virginia area means the numbers could be higher, as the disease is endemic in Bolivia. She asserted that if doctors would use an electrocardiogram (EKG), they could find the victims more easily, concluding, “If you were to find that EKG from an area where Chagas is common, it’s diagnostic.”
The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are the current treatments for Chagas. Those drugs, according to ASTMH (American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene), run the risk of nerve damage, nausea, and weight loss.

one more for the wierd list

I have made the choice to wait it out and not come this xmas. Hoping that all travelers who choose to go stay safe. For me, bringing the coils,etc. and worrying about it proves to be a hassle. I want no worries when I am on vacation,

If you booked a long time ago, and spent your money and practically counted each and every day- you would take coils and tons of insect repellent and go. Would you cancel if your money was non-refundable? I doubt that all types of cancellation insurance will cover Chik-V, but some may. In many cases no insurance.

I did lose my deposit and I did cancel

I got a great deal back in March and paid in full. As far as coils, it won't be so easy to find them at this time of the year in a cold climate. I found a nice sales rep at the local hardware store and he went upstairs and got me some out. When we go camping in the summer we burn coils all day and evening in a little hanging device, they are really effective. I'm getting excited, can't wait.

Amazon has plenty on sale


Cap