Mosquito Virus Makes Return To Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – State health officials are confirming its first case of chikungunya virus in a Mississippi resident who recently returned from Honduras.
Last year there were eight cases of chikungunya reported in Mississippi. All were in international travelers – five to the Dominican Republic, one to Haiti, and one to Puerto Rico. Chikungunya is a risk to all travelers to the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain and joint swelling. Deaths are rare, but officials say anyone with a compromised immune system is at a higher risk of complications from the infection.
Health officials say individuals who think they might be infected with chikungunya virus should see their health care provider and stay indoors for at least 10 days to avoid mosquito bites.
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