I have become quite interested in this matter of Chikungunya for a couple of reasons, mainly because it is a matter of public health and protecting vulnerable populations, but also because it is a matter of productivity.

Apparently, I have become so interested that my body has decided to do some firsthand, investigative reporting by contracting this virus. I have now been diagnosed with it. The rash appeared last night, all over my torso, arms and legs. Then I awoke at 2am (not to go back to sleep) with body aches and pain in the joints in only the left side of my body. (At first I thought it was a running injury because I cannot put full weight on my left side.) I am exhausted as well.

All symptoms of Chikungunya, but according to a friend of mine who is a nurse, it is the rash that is distinguishing ChikV from influenza and dengue, both of which she says are also going around. Let’s just say it is not pleasant. After a visit to the doctor to confirm this, I was sent home with an order to rest, get plenty of fluids and take Panadol (acetaminophen). There is nothing else you can do.

I have heard that pharmacies are sold out of Panadol and this turned out to be the case at two popular locations I tried. So I had to get the generic pain-killer. My nurse friend, who works at an inner-city clinic where most patients are very poor, says she is seeing about 35 cases per day. Because her clinic does not have the funds to run tests on everyone, they are only testing one in ten people who come in with suspected symptoms. In addition, they are now sending the samples over to Trinidad as local labs are overrun. It costs $8,500 per test.

Just a quick update on this issue that now seems to be affecting the entire population, on one level or another.