The doctor spoke about the symptoms and prevention of chikungunya fever

Chikungunya fever is manifested by a sharp rise in temperature, severe joint pain and a skin rash that occurs three to seven days after a mosquito bite. Vladimir Neronov, MD, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia about this on February 4.

According to the expert, the virus is transmitted exclusively through the bites of infected insects, primarily tiger mosquitoes, and direct infection from person to person is impossible. To reduce the risk of infection in endemic regions, the doctor advises using repellents, wearing light-colored, closed clothing, choosing air-conditioned housing with mosquito nets, and removing containers with stagnant water near the house where mosquitoes can breed. He noted that these insects are especially active during the daytime, so additional protection is provided by fumigators and window screens.

"Without treatment, chronic joint pain for months is possible, complications in the elderly and people with chronic diseases; mortality is low, but there is no specific therapy," the doctor said, noting that mortality remains low, but specific antiviral therapy does not yet exist.

According to Neronov, tourists returning from tropical countries, residents of southern regions where tiger mosquitoes are common, as well as people without developed immunity are at increased risk. After an infection, as the doctor noted, protective antibodies persist for life, so re-infection is considered unlikely.

The expert called the prevention of insect bites the main measure of protection against chikungunya. If characteristic symptoms appear after traveling to areas that are not affected by the infection, he recommended that you immediately consult a doctor for examination and follow-up.

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Earlier that day, Rospotrebnadzor reported that an imported case of chikungunya fever had been registered in Russia. It was noted that the patient arrived in Moscow after a vacation in the Seychelles, where she noted mosquito bites and did not use repellents. After returning to the country, she was hospitalized, the diagnosis was confirmed using domestic highly sensitive test systems.

Later, Gennady Onishchenko, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Deputy president of the Russian Academy of Education, announced that chikungunya fever would not spread in Russia. He explained that the disease is transmitted mainly by vector—borne pathways - through the bites of certain species of mosquitoes that do not live in the country.

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