Chikungunya Virus
Dis-ease Prevention, Maintenance, and Cure
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Chikungunya is a viral disease (genus Alphavirus) which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes – including Aedes
aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The name chikungunya originates from a verb in the Kimakonde language, meaning 'to become
contorted'. This refers to the 'stooped' appearance of those suffering with joint pain.
Symptoms
Symptoms appear between 4 and 7 days after the patient has been bitten by the infected mosquito and these include:
High fever (40°C/ 104°F)
Joint pain (lower back, ankle, knees, wrists or phalanges)
Joint swelling
Rash
Headache
Muscle pain
Nausea
Fatigue
Chikungunya is rarely fatal. Symptoms are generally self-limiting and last for 2–3 days. The virus remains in the human system for
5-7 days and mosquitoes feeding on an infected person during this period can also become infected. Chikungunya shares some
clinical signs with dengue and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
Chikungunya can be detected using serological tests. Recovery from an infection will confer life-long immunity.
Source: WHO on Chikungunya ~ Retrieved 18 Mar 2020
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Chikungunya virus Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), is a member of the genus Alphavirus, and family Togaviridae. It was first isolated in
1953 in Tanzania and is an RNA virus with a positive-sense single-stranded genome of about 11.6kb.
Chikungunya - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikungunya
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How do you protect yourself?
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How do you catch it?
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How is the infection treated?
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Once a communicable/infectious dis-sease is contracted/confirmed, it is important to isololate/quarantine the
patient and take additional preventive precautions when attending to the needs of the patient.
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Controlling infection in health-care settings
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Controlling infection in health-care settings
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Basic protective measures against a new virus
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Wash your hands frequently
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands.
Practice respiratory hygiene
When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and
clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough
into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and
have a fever.
Why? When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease, like 2019-nCoV, coughs or sneezes they project small droplets
containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your
contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Tell your health care provider if you have traveled in an area in China where 2019-nCoV has been reported, or if you have been in
close contact with someone with who has traveled from China and has respiratory symptoms.
Why? Whenever you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing it’s important to seek medical attention promptly as this may be
due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Respiratory symptoms with fever can have a range of causes, and
depending on your personal travel history and circumstances, 2019-nCoV could be one of them.
If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China
If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand
hygiene and stay home until you are recovered, if possible.
As a general precaution, practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets or animal
product markets
Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products; avoid touching eyes, nose
or mouth with hands; and avoid contact with sick animals or spoiled animal products. Strictly avoid any contact with other
animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, bats). Avoid contact with potentially contaminated animal waste or
fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.
Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products
Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety
practices.
Source: WHO Advice for Public
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Personal Hygiene Tips and Reminders
What to Do If You’re Feeling Sick
Protecting Yourself from Infected Patients
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For a lot of job sites, safety masks and respirators are an essential piece of PPE. The lungs are delicate, important organs that are
hard to repair if they get damaged, and inhaling the wrong chemical can have devastating effects on other areas of the body as
well. Protect yourself from invisible airborne particles by investing in a respirator or mask suited to your job.
How Masks and Respirators Are Rated
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a division of the CDC. They determine the ratings that allow
people to choose the right mask for the job. Because government agencies determine ratings for masks, purchasing more
expensive brand name N95 masks won’t necessarily provide “better” protection.
The ratings are based on a performance standard. Both the filter material and the relative quality of the mask fit are factored into
whether a mask earns a particular rating. The challenge in determining this is smoke with 0.3 micron sized particles. How well
does the filter media catch these little buggers, and does the mask fit seal off the path for unfiltered air?
Modern filter media uses a built-in static charge to attract and retain particles as they are pulled through. Some grades of filter can
have this static charge ruined when in contact with oil mist. The letter in a mask’s name tells you whether or not the mask can
resist oil: N masks are not oil resistant, P masks are oil proof, and R masks are oil resistant.
The number in a rating tells you the minimum amount of airborne challenge particles the mask protects against: an N95 mask
keeps out at least 95% of particles but isn’t oil resistant, and a P100 mask is oil proof while protecting the wearer from at least
99.8% of particles.
Where to Use Your N95 Masks
N95 masks see a lot of use in industrial and construction applications where dust and liquids are a frequent hazard. They’re not
suited for areas with lead or asbestos particles, gases, oil-based particulates, aerosols, or some particular healthcare applications:
specialized filters, masks, and respirators are needed for those kinds of work. Face masks are meant to be single-use and disposed
of after removal, and they’re not meant to be shared.
Can N95 Masks Protect Me from a Virus?
The emergence of Wuhan coronavirus (and SARS before that) has a lot of people concerned and stocking up on N95 masks. Viruses
and bacteria are generally too small for a mask to protect against, though they are almost always in a droplet from a sneeze or
cough. The mask will stop the droplets.
Please also remember that your eyes are another pathway, so glasses or goggles may be prudent. Another good thing about
wearing a mask is that it prevents you from touching your nose and mouth! This is a prime route for the spread of viruses.
If you are the infected person, please avoid the masks that have an exhalation valve. They do breathe easier than those without,
but they allow unfiltered air to escape the mask, and this may not be what you have in mind.
It’s also recommended that you wear a face mask if you have symptoms and are entering a healthcare facility for treatment, and
healthcare professionals would likely benefit from wearing one as well. If you do wear a mask, choose one that can be fitted to
your face, and use the same health and hygiene practices you would use to prevent the flu (stay home if you’re sick, wash your
hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid close contact with others, and keep the disinfectant handy).PK Safety N95 Respirators and
Masks
Choosing the right PPE for your workers and job can seem like a daunting prospect, but it’s a necessary one to make sure that
everyone stays healthy on the job. PK Safety carries a variety of respirators, face masks, and filters for every worksite need from a
variety of trusted brands. Our safety experts can answer your questions about air quality, equipment, and worksite safety online or
by phone at 800.829.9580.
Source: PKSafety.com Blog
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Plants that Repel Mosquitoes
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A more natural way of repelling Mosquitoes
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has essential oils that can be extracted and used as a spray. Also effective when grown nearby.
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Cadaga Tree
(Eucalyptus torelliana)
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can repel mosquitoes simply by being planted in an area where mosquitoes are not wanted.
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is very effective at keeping mosquitoes away.
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is an effective mosquito repellent. One of its main active ingredients, nepetalactone, was found to be
10x stronger than DEET. A good non-toxic alternative to traditional chemical sprays.
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Many repellent products contain cedar oil as on of its active ingredients to repel mosquitoes as well
as other insect pests.
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Citronella Grass
(Cymbopogon nardus)
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is a plant which, when crushed, releases an oil. This oil can be placed directly on the skin to act as a
mosquito repellent, or mixed with other oils and liquids to make repellents.
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Clove
(Syzygium aromaticum)
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a natural mosquito repellent plant you can use as a planting around the yard or use oil from the clove
to repel mosquitoes quickly.
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is a natural way to repel mosquitoes. One way to use it is to cut up garlic and sprinkle it around your
outdoor living areas. A yard spray can also be made. Garlic can even be mixed with natural aromatic
oils in order to create mosquito repelling body spray.
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Lavender
(Lavandula angustifolia)
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Even though lavender is a smell often enjoyed by humans, lavender repels mosquitoes. It can be
planted in gardens or made into oil and applied to the skin or mixed with other oils to keep
mosquitoes away.
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Lemon Balm
(Melissa officinalis)
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Lemon Balm is a herb in the mint family that has a variety of uses like in flavoring in herbal teas.
Make a quick mosquito repellent, by crushing a handful of leaves and rubbing on your exposed skin.
Grow in the garden for easy access when you need them.
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Lemon Grass
(Cymbopogon citrates)
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containing citronella, a natural oil that repels mosquitoes. Lemon grass is used in Southeast Asia to
flavor things such as chicken. In India, it is used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Lemon Grass has
a wonderful aroma so that it is often used in perfumes and other toiletries.
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Lemon Scented
Geranium
(Pelargonium crispum)
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can be added to your landscape to allow you access to a natural mosquito repellent. When the leaves
are crushed, they emit a strong lemony smell. The crushed leaves can be spread around your living
area to keep mosquitoes at bay.
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Lemon Thyme
(Thymus vulgaris)
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repels mosquitoes naturally. Mosquitoes tend to hate their citrus smell. Crush a few parts of this
plant and rub on the body to keep these harmful bugs away. Make sure that your skin can tolerate the
oil before applying to larger areas of the body.
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Lemon Verbena
(Aloysia triphylla)
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can be planted in your garden, doorways, and windows in order to repel mosquitoes. The plant's oils
can also be applied to the body to ward off bugs.
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Mexican Marigold
(Tagetes lucida)
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the scent of marigolds is offensive to most people and mosquitoes. You can grow it in your yard or
cut the flowers off and keep them around the house to keep mosquitoes from visiting.
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Natural oil from the eucalyptus tree repels insects such as mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks, midges, stable
flies and more.
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Nodding Onion
(Allium cernuum)
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Juices can be extracted from allium cernuum via grinding or blending. This juice is highly proficient in
repelling mosquitoes and can be directly applied to the skin. The allium cernuum is not an irritant
and is not know for any sort of reaction.
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usually grown in gardens to flavor tea. However, mint also repels mosquitoes and you can make your
own repellent with mint! All species of mint, both wild and cultivated, contain aromatic properties
repulsive to insects.
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Pineapple weed
(Matricaria matricarioides)
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the aroma of pineapple. The weed can be dried or used fresh to prepare and interesting tea.
Matricaria matricariodes' buds can be used ot add an interesting twist to salads.
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Pitcher Plant
(Nepenthes alata)
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it is actually a carnivorous plant that is similar to a Venus Fly Trap. Except this little beauty gobbles
up mosquitoes. Simply, plant this in your yard and watch it work.
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strong, but natural way to ward away mosquitoes. Crush up Wormwood leaves and distribute around
your outdoor living ways in order to effectively keep these nasty insects away.
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Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
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can be planted in your garden in order to control mosquito infestation. It can also be mixed into
various formulas and lotions to act as a mosquito repellent for the body.
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Snowbrush
(Ceeonothus velutinus)
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is a plant that can be used in your landscape in order to keep mosquitoes away but considered a weed
in most areas.
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Sweet Fern
(Comptonia peregrina)
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is a natural herb that has many uses. To fight mosquitoes away you can place some Sweet Fern into a
fire to keep the little bugs away from the fire and the surrounding area. Also can be used as an
essential oil spray.
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used for a variety of health problems, as it helps increase blood and saliva flow. Tansy can be used as
a bug repellent around your home.
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We have long used Tea Tree oil on our animals, as well as ourselves. The scent is too strong for any
bugs to get near, and it also does wonders as irritation to bugs. It is great and natural!; but toxic, so be
careful.
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Vanilla Leaf
(Achlys triphylia)
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used by native tribes as an insect repellent. First crush and apply by rubbing mosquito-repellent
plants like Vanilla Leaf on your skin.
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Wild Bergamot
(Mondarda fistulosa)
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can be used to repel mosquitoes, but it must first be diluted with water because the plant itself can
irritate the skin. Also you should test the plant on your skin in small amounts first to test for allergic
reactions.
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Stone root
(Collinsonia canadensis)
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a tall plant that is similar to mint, in fact it is in the same family. It is easy to grow and can be made
into a mosquito repellent when crushed and boiled.
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Nothing is hidden from God's view!...
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All rights reserved.
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