CHIKV Gets Celebrity Status

Chikungunya virus could become the infectious disease of the hour—not because of any new cases in the US, but because actress Lindsay Lohan says she has it.

Lohan has been tweeting about contracting the febrile, mosquito-borne illness during a vacation in French Polynesia.

“Being sick is no fun. But happy new year everyone,” Lohan tweeted recently, urging her followers to use insecticides if they are in areas where the virus is likely to be. The virus, known as CHIKV, has been endemic in the hotter parts of the world for years, but until recently cases in the US were limited to people who came down with CHIKV fever elsewhere.

More recently, locally acquired cases were reported in Florida.

Should the rest of the US be prepared for more CHIKV cases? Maybe, said Bruce Hirsch an infectious disease expert and assistant professor at the Hofstra/North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine in Hempstead, NY.

“There is no risk of spread to New York during the winter months when mosquitoes are not active,” Hirsch said. “However, we have mosquitos in this area that could support and spread this virus,” he added. New pathogens seem to be traveling to the US, he said. “We live on a shrinking and warming world and Infectious disease doctors are anticipating more and more exotic and tropical diseases to make their way to our cities and towns.”

Health officials in Puerto Rico consider CHIKV to be a serious problem and launched a door-to-door public health campaign to test for the virus and educate residents about the need to take mosquito-control measures.

The illness can be fatal. It can also cause long-term joint pain. The initial symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever. But unlike dengue infection, CHIKV fever confers immunity to future infections for those who recover.