Seven suspected cases of virus

THERE HAVE BEEN no positive cases of Chikungunya in Barbados to date, however, the Ministry of Health is currently investigating seven suspected cases of the disease.
Samples of those persons with symptoms of the disease were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing on Thursday and results are expected soon. 
Routine tests of any patient with symptoms of Chikungunya have been conducted since December 2013, when the disease was first reported in the Caribbean region.
Chikungunya, a virus similar to dengue, is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito as well as the Aedes albopictus mosquito. The symptoms are similar to dengue fever and may include a sudden high fever, headache, rash, nausea and muscle pain.