The chicunguni virus, a fever transferred through mosquitoes, was recorded in the south of China. According to local authorities, about 3,000 people have already been sick in Guandu. The infection came into the region from the coast of the Indian Ocean in early July and spreads rapidly. Valery Litvinov, a senior researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology of Perm Polytechnic University, told Gazeta.ru whether the Russians should be careful about the new virus.
Chicunguni developed in Africa, trees 300-500 years ago, then moved to Asian countries, starting with people, Aedes mosquito, yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes. These insects live in Africa, Asia, America and Southern Europe, and they are expanding the area of spread along with global warming.
The virus comes into the body through a mosquitar bite, quickly penetrates blood and can cause a cytokine storm that threatens life, an extremely immune response that destroys the human texture. Most often the joints and the nervous system suffer. The incubation period is 1 to 12 days, the sharp stage takes up to three weeks. Symptoms are sharp heat, headache, muscles and joint pain, gastrointestinal system, heart and nervous system.
The main danger is the escalation of chronic diseases, particularly heart diseases, as well as possible brain injury. The deaths are rare and are usually associated with accompanying diseases, several dozen deaths occur in the case of several thousand cases.
The masks will not save you from Chicungunia. The virus is not transmitted in an aerial vehicle. Protection is possible only through the fight against mosquitoes. Scientists say that one of the promising methods is to infect insects with special bacteria, which hinder the reproduction of the virus.
The vaccine against Chicungunia has already been approved in 2023, and research is underway in other countries, including Russia. According to Litvinov, it is possible only if the range of mosquitoes expands, and they adapt to a cold climate, which is unlikely at this time.
The specialist also mentioned that theoretically Chicunguni virus, like Covid-19, can be created or changed in the laboratory as to use biological weapons, as it can overload health systems.
Translation of: Euromedia24.com
