Mosquitoes are very widespread throughout Texas and usually are just considered a nuisance, but chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has been identified in five Texas counties, mostly in the South Central part of the state.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (AgriLife) entomologist Sonja Swiger says the virus has the potential to become endemic to the state. The first confirmed case was reported in Williamson County and the most recent was in Bexar County. Other confirmed cases have been reported in Gonzales, Travis and Harris counties, according to AgriLife Today.
Chikungunya is not fatal, but symptoms include joint pain and swelling, fever, muscle pain, headache and rash. Those most at risk are the very young; people over 65 and individuals with chronic medical conditions. The virus is not spread from person to person, and there is no treatment other than managing the symptoms.
The three components for the virus—mosquitoes, people to serve as the host and the disease pathogen—are all present in the Lone Star State and allow to potentially make the disease endemic. Endemic means being characteristic of or prevalent in a particular population, area or region.
For more information about chikungunya, go to http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/.