Dear All,

The gPEM team was supposed to go to Jamaica in a month for a conference, but this was unfortunately just canceled because of an outbreak keeping the hospital busy there. This outbreak appears to be secondary to a virus, Chikungunya. 

So, from Enterovirus to Ebola… here’s an other one to potentially expect in our ED: Chikungunya!

Read this page from the AAP News (link below) to get an idea of what Chikungunya is, and how it presents. Keep you eye open on our patients from the Caribbeans…

In short: Transmitted by mosquitos, presents with acute fever and polyarthralgias most commonly. Lasts a week. Treatment is supportive. Though it can overwhelm health care centers, mortality is rare.

Enjoy,

Rasha

Time will tell if Chikungunya will become a problem in the US