Port-of-Spain, September 4 (NNN-RHC) –- Trinidad and Tabago has warned the Caribbean to be prepared to face the 'full impact" of chikungunya, the mosquito-borne virus that has so far been estimated to have infected 600,000 people.

The warning was issued by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which is headquartered in Port-of-Spain.

The first case of chikungunya virus was reported eight months ago.  CARPHA executive director, Dr James Hospedales, said that almost all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have now reported cases of the virus.

“There are a total of over 9,000 confirmed cases, with an estimate in excess of 600,000 cases in total, most of those being from the bigger countries like the Dominican Republic and Haiti with 37 deaths.”

Chikungunya is a viral disease, carried mainly by the aedes aegypti mosquito, and causes a dengue-like sickness.
Symptoms include sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and rash.  Joint pain and stiffness are more common with chikungunya than with dengue.