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Cases of mosquito-borne chikungunya virus appearing in US

Sunday - 6/15/2014, 12:20am  ET

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A virus that has sickened tens-of-thousands of people in the Caribbean is starting to trickle into the United States. The virus -- chikungunya (chihk-uhn-GUHN-yah) -- is spread by mosquitoes, and is notable for causing severe joint pain.

Rhode Island health officials report two confirmed cases in their state. They involve people who had traveled to the Dominican Republic, and then returned home last month. And, in Tennessee, another patient tested positive for the virus, after visiting the Caribbean. More cases are suspected, but not yet confirmed.

The chikungunya virus causes high fevers and joint pain, but it's rarely fatal. There is no vaccine and the main treatment is pain medication.

%@AP Links

211-v-30-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)--Several cases of a mosquito-borne virus, that's been plaguing people in the Caribbean, are now reported in the U.S. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. (14 Jun 2014)


212-c-15-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)-"of the islands"-AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports there are tens of thousands of cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the Caribbean, but now several have appeared in the United States. (14 Jun 2014)


213-c-14-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)-"is pain medication"-AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports the mosquito-borne virus is widespread in the Caribbean, but now several cases are reported in Rhode Island and Tennessee. (14 Jun 2014)
