{"id":21697,"date":"2025-09-18T14:16:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/?p=21697"},"modified":"2025-09-22T10:16:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:16:22","slug":"stay-ahead-of-the-bite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/archives\/21697","title":{"rendered":"Stay ahead of the bite\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21697\" class=\"elementor elementor-21697\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d48bc3d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d48bc3d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1725f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b1725f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has resurfaced as a global public health concern, with South Africa recording 10 travel-related cases since July 2025.  <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9748589 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9748589\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-1024x574.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21752\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/close-up-mosquitoes-nature-2048x1147.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-475d692 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"475d692\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Originally identified in Tanzania in 1952, outbreaks of this mosquito-borne virus have increased significantly since 2004 due to evolving viral traits and external drivers such as climate change and increased global travel. By 2025, over 110 countries reported cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flagged 46 cases in the United States this year, along with more than 10 000 cases in China.<\/p><p>According to Dr Nkateko Msimeki and the Medscheme Health Policy Unit\u2019s recent newsletter, the 10 cases in South Africa were traced back to regions such as Kenya and the Indian Ocean islands.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afd0031 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"afd0031\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What sets Chikungunya apart?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfe6428 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dfe6428\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21756\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/woman-suffering-from-rash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80e04d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80e04d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>CHIKV spreads through the bites of infected \u201cAedes aegypti\u201d and \u201cAedes albopictus\u201d mosquitoes, commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas. While the virus spreads exclusively through mosquito bites (not human-to-human contact), it has adapted to be more transmissible among mosquitoes.<\/p><p><strong>Symptoms include:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>fever<\/li><li>muscle aches<\/li><li>headaches<\/li><li>fatigue<\/li><li>joint discomfort<\/li><\/ul><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW51160298 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW51160298 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\" data-ccp-parastyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;aaed607e-c2a3-5841-9fb4-41037bfa0faf|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777844,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469769226,&quot;Times New Roman,Aptos&quot;,268442635,&quot;24&quot;,469775450,&quot;paragraph&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;paragraph&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,335559705,&quot;2057&quot;,134233118,&quot;true&quot;,134233117,&quot;true&quot;,469778324,&quot;Normal&quot;]}\">Rare complications such as paralysis, heart failure or vision impairment may affect vulnerable <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW51160298 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\">individuals<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW51160298 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW51160298 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a57aea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a57aea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">South Africa\u2019s reality <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-051f8cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"051f8cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With our diverse climate and expanding urbanisation, South Africa isn\u2019t impervious to mosquito-borne threats like CHIKV. As global warming extends mosquito habitats and as South Africans travel more, the risk grows. Currently, CHIKV vaccines are not available locally, leaving prevention as the best strategy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a183fc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a183fc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a377cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9a377cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Staying ahead of the bite <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abc3379 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abc3379\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Preventative measures to combat infection include:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Wearing long-sleeved clothing<\/li><li>Using mosquito repellents<\/li><li>Eliminating stagnant water around homes<\/li><li>Sleeping under treated mosquito nets<\/li><\/ul><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW206343056 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW206343056 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\" data-ccp-parastyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;aaed607e-c2a3-5841-9fb4-41037bfa0faf|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777844,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469769226,&quot;Times New Roman,Aptos&quot;,268442635,&quot;24&quot;,469775450,&quot;paragraph&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;paragraph&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,335559705,&quot;2057&quot;,134233118,&quot;true&quot;,134233117,&quot;true&quot;,469778324,&quot;Normal&quot;]}\">Remember, if travelling to mosquito prone areas, remain vigilant and take as <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW206343056 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\">many<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW206343056 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"paragraph\"> precautions as possible.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW206343056 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e9bc13 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e9bc13\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/afrocentrichealth.sharepoint.com\/sites\/GroupCommunication\/ConneXion%20Weekly%20newsletter\/Forms\/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FGroupCommunication%2FConneXion%20Weekly%20newsletter%2F2025%2FSeptember%2FChikungunya%20Outbreak%2Epdf&amp;parent=%2Fsites%2FGroupCommunication%2FConneXion%20Weekly%20newsletter%2F2025%2FSeptember\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here<\/a> to read Dr Nkateko Msimeki and the Medscheme Health Policy Unit\u2019s full newsletter on CHIKV.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div style=\"display:flex; gap:10px;justify-content:center\" class=\"wps-pgfw-pdf-generate-icon__wrapper-frontend\">\n\t\t<a  href=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21697?action=genpdf&amp;id=21697\" class=\"pgfw-single-pdf-download-button\" ><img src=\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-generator-for-wp\/admin\/src\/images\/PDF_Tray.svg\" title=\"Generate PDF\" style=\"width:auto; height:45px;\"><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has resurfaced as a global public health concern, with South Africa recording 10 travel-related cases since July 2025. Originally identified in Tanzania in 1952, outbreaks of this mosquito-borne virus have increased significantly since 2004 due to evolving viral traits and external drivers such as climate change and increased global travel. By [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":21698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[346],"class_list":["post-21697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-wellness-afrocentric15","tag-afrocentric15"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21697"}],"version-history":[{"count":70,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21928,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21697\/revisions\/21928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}