Ever wondered what Chikungunya sounds like?
Over 1000 cases and counting is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Everywhere you turn, someone you know is afflicted: a friend, a relative, a neighbour – maybe even you! That is why you won’t regret listening to this sound byte: a gripping call of a 78 year old lady from Kingshill (Click here).
Petra Shillingford, host of the bi-weekly Talking Gender DBS radio program, provided the format for her featured guest, veteran Environmental Health officer Calma Louis of St. Joseph. Responsible now for the Roseau District, Louis’ 15 years of experience was reflected in her intimate grasp of the biological challenges facing us. Like her name, her voice has a calming, soothing quality, yet it lit a fire under us to take the needed action.
Tell if that you are noticing as well. Most people don’t seek even medical attention. Few know that symptoms can last months or years with long-term effects on the heart, liver and kidney. They endure the few days of high fever and only start bawling when the joint pain becomes disabling. The undercount is therefore massive. The Dominica Social Security just last week outlined the dire toll that it is taking on the economy. The torrent of sobering news reports and announcements on the epidemic can numb us into apathy – shrugging it off in despair, ‘Ailas…sa pou feh.’
The radio discussion you are about to hear gives a human face to the epidemic. Yet troubling myths still abound: Are you trying to tell us the same mosquito carrying Chikungunya virus on one side of its belly and Dengue on the other? How come we don’t get AIDS if the mosquito gets a blood meal from an infected person and then bites us? If Chikungunya started in Africa, are we going to get Ebola next?
So moved was I by my DBS experience, I decide to follow-up by visiting the control centre in the fight against Chikungunya. Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Scotland described the robust efforts of his team and highlighted exemplary community action especially in places like LaPlaine, Vieille Case and Penville. For the most part he feels that too many citizens rely exclusively on government and Town Council. We discussed how citizens in developed countries can be fined for not clearing snowdrifts from the public sidewalk in front their homes or businesses. Unlike our caller from Kingshill, most people here make little effort to likewise clear the drains that directly affect them.
Mr. Scotland went on to lament the falling away of our koudmain culture when ordinary people spontaneously organized themselves on the local level to solve common problems. Solid Waste Management is the state corporation tasked with working together with local groups for community clean-up of derelict vehicles. That extends to ‘white goods’ such as thrown-away fridges, stoves and washing machines. More than eyesores, these big pieces of junk provide ideal breeding places for harmful vectors such as the Aedes Egypti mosquito.
Mass Mobilization
On the radio program, you will hear Mrs. Louis describe the Ministry of Health’s impressive initiatives with the “Little bite, Big Threat” campaign. As soon as I got home to Didier Lane, I called some neighbours together.
We agreed we have to do something. Churches and social organizations can take it outdoors instead of assembling as usual with the same old programs. All it takes is for one committed soul to say, ‘Why don’t we?’ …as an act of worship, an act of service. Not every organization is going to be responsive, but imagine how impressive it will look when yours is recognized as being relevant and concerned about community well-being. You see, the solution is not high tech or wonder drug. Unlike chronic non-communicable disease like Diabetes and Hypertension, another neighbour ‘getting the Chikungunya’ dramatically increases my own risk. Clearing the neighbourhood of standing water lowers my risk in equal measure.
It’s a worrisome topic, but as you will hear, we were neither weary, nor were we down. In her vintage rapid-fire fashion, the dynamic and delightful Petra Shillingford, served up the questions on everybody’s minds:
- Is Chikungunya directly contagious like chicken pox?
- What else is there besides Paracetamol to treat the disease?
- Are there any local or cheaper insect repellents?
- How can nutrition speed up recovery?
- If I get it, how long will it last?
Unlike dengue, this is not a disease that kills as much as it absolutely inflicts some serious suffering. Like hurricanes, epidemics come and go. But in this case, we do not just have to hunker down and ride out the storm. By our coordinated community action, we can show Chikungunya the door. Click on the recording below and share your experiences. There is no surer way to start saying, “Enough is enough!”
DBS Chikungunya Panel with Petra Shillingford:
Dr. Sam Christian runs the Urgent Care on 137 Bath Road. It provides prompt medical treatment, surgery and acupuncture. He is Medical Officer of the Dominica Cadet Corps, Medical Adviser to the Dominica Cancer Society and author of the faith and fitness nutrition book, ‘Mannafast Miracle.’ Dr. Christian can be reached anytime at 440-9133, 615-8345 or by writing to [email protected].
Yes my people, clean up, clean up. Dominica has a tropical weather which is unique. After the drizzle, and rain, check your surroundings and get rid of the standing water. Enough already. Thanks Doc.
Dr. Sam has raised the concern to a new level. It’s hard to appreciate that a stupid like insect that you can clap in you hands just like that – is the most dangerous animal in the world! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2615737/Forget-sharks-mosquitoes-SNAILS-worlds-deadliest-animals-Graphic-reveals-human-races-biggest-killers.html
Reading about how mosquitoes have nearly wiped out famous cities will help us take this more seriously. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/yellowfever.htm
I compliment Dr. Christian for using his medical training to care for ordinary Dominicans. Since he returned to the island he has volunteered his time and skill to the cancer society and in clinics on cancer in villages. Now he is helping people focus on the need to volunteer to clean their neighborhoods of stagnant water which are breeding grounds for these mosquitoes which carry chikunya disease. We know we cannot prosper by dependence on government. We must do for self. Where these useless politicians stop eating each other on radio and teach neighbors to work together to build the country we will have chance. Well done Dr. Christian. May your days be blessed. Your reward is already here. I will try to come by your office today to discuss how we can work together. I encourage others to do the same.
Then everyone should keep their surrounding clean and also that of their neighbour..lets start now
Another symptom in our country that points to a wider troublesome issue – not enough constructive social action by each citizen. 69,000 people can get rid of the places in which the mosquitoes lay their eggs and breed. If each of us operate from love for ourselves and our people the problem is solved in no time. What are we waiting for?
Thanks for another poignant article Dr Christian.
Can someone let us know what exactly the Chief officer is proposing to the World Health Organisation in seeking aid/assistance for Dominica in its efforts to combat the fight against Chikungunya. The Chief Environmental Officer, Anthony Scotland needs to move on this fast – things are very serious and may well impact on Tourism particularly the long summer holidays when many from the UK and the USA descend on the island for that long awaited break from City life!
There needs to be mass communication and action in general environmental matters, re education of good practice in taking responsibility for ones own ‘back yard’, proper disposable and sanitation. Everyone needs to take responsibility for waste disposal and garbage. Currently in Scott’s Head some folk think nothing of continually using a stand alone pipes for bathing (themselves in the full view of passing folk)- despite a government sign instructing that the pipes are not for such purpose! An exposed open drain carries garbage that has been carelessly dumped in it – yes garbage in a drain – the liquids that do manage to rush down the drain carrying garbage until the flow is halted in the direct path of individual homes! Yes I can believe this is probably common practice in many villages. But this has to STOP … People must wake up and take responsibility for their actions.
The fabulous efforts of the Goodwill neighbours need to be established across the island. Well done to them and all credit to the writer of the article above.
I am planning on visiting Dominica in October this this year, and is now becoming very afraid to do so .I have been listing your program,and is encourage to hear that some progress is being made in the fight against the chikungunya disease.
I share the view expressed by the Mr Scotland ,that the individuals are responsible for abating the mosquito population from their property. However, the cultural dependence on Government to provide this task will ensure a prolong and viable life for Mosquitos.
It is said that the Ministry of Health is being stretched thin in an effort to eradicate the Mosquitos and treat the infected persons.
I think is the time for an act of parliament, which would give environmental health officers the authority the issues tickets and fines to premises owners who are in violation of the environmental health code. After all the health and economy of the nation is at stake.
This started in India where a chikungunya fever outbreak started in December 2005 when the country experienced more than 13 chikungunya infected cases. They undertook a study to study detailed clinical profile of chikungunya fever in both indoor and outdoor patients in a tertiary care hospital in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 2006.
Fever, joint pain; and headache are major symptoms of the disease. Certain rare manifestations like lymphodenopathy, oral ulcers and encephalitis were also seen. Mortality in confirmed cases during early research was about 3.4 per cent.
I (doh) know very much about so, I am forced to be very brief, since such is relatively new, and was not around when I attended the institutions where such are thought! Man doh can talk plenty about what him doh know eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
In this case I am limited, I learned a little bit about between 2005 and 2006
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
History[edit]
Main article: Chikungunya outbreaks
The word chikungunya is thought to derive from a description in the Makonde language, meaning “that which bends up”, of the contorted posture of patients afflicted with the severe joint pain and arthritic symptoms associated with this disease.[56] The disease was first described by Marion Robinson[57] and W.H.R. Lumsden[58] in 1955, following an outbreak in 1952 on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Mozambique and Tanganyika (the mainland part of modern day Tanzania).
According to the initial 1955 report about the epidemiology of the disease, the term chikungunya is derived from the Makonde root verb kungunyala, meaning to dry up or become contorted. In concurrent research, Robinson glossed the Makonde term more specifically as “that which bends up”. Subsequent authors apparently overlooked the references to the Makonde language and assumed the term derived from Swahili, the lingua franca of the region. The erroneous attribution of the term as a Swahili word has been repeated in numerous print sources. Many other erroneous spellings and forms of the term are in common use including “chicken guinea”, “chicken gunaya”, and “chickengunya”.[citation needed]
Since its discovery in Tanganyika, Africa, in 1952, chikungunya virus outbreaks have occurred occasionally in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, but recent outbreaks have spread the disease over a wider range.
The first recorded outbreak of this disease may have been in 1779.[59] This is in agreement with the molecular genetics evidence that suggests it evolved around the year 1700.[60]
If you are trying to contradict me, my information came from a clinical profile of chikungunaya fever in patients, dating back to the date I stated, I named the hospital where the study took place, I assume it stated in India where the study was conducted.
Now remember I specifically said I do not know much about such dieses, because when I went to the institutions where medicine and such informed are taught, not once such a dieses was mentioned, it is not in any to the text books which I used, so if it started on Mars, Venus, or Timbuktu, or the whole of Africa, the kid doh know eh.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
I is one man who doh talk much about what I doh know.
Nevertheless, if your input is intended for my development, I wish to thank you and express my appreciation.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
@Francisco Telemaque April 28, 2014
You are claiming to be medically intelligent, maybe even more so than Doctor Christians, because all you do here is rewrite another version of his message, I have said it before that it seems like being rude to him.
And at the same time you want us to accept that it is okay, that you do not know very much about “chikungunaya” so you cannot write very much–as you claim that it is “relatively new” like saying that it wasn’t in its drastic effect when you were in whatever you claim to be “institution”.
What if Doctor Christian and others should say the same–that the illness in question is “new” and they did not study it at medical school so there is not much that they can do about it–the world would be under populated, don’t you think so? But God has His chosen people in this world for the sake of Life–those people glorify His power of Love, in them.
And so the person with the identity “hmmmm” has a point which you should have left alone, and to humble yourself for once in your life–gush man!