By Neil Primus

WHEN the news of Chikungunya (Loosely translated: That which bends up) broke in Guyana, I at once took steps to avoid infection. I bought repellent, mosquito coil, mosquito netting and long-sleeved clothing. It seemed to have worked. After an initial period of fear and apprehension, the threat of this infection receded. I felt relieved, and relaxed my guard.Then BAM!
A few months after, I was hit hard by something. Upon rising one morning, my entire body ached. I had done no excessive work or exercise, so this was not a good sign.

A STRANGE RASH
By the next day, my aching body was covered with a strange, irritating rash. Parched, cracked lips and a slight headache added to my misery.
By now, my muscles felt like well-beaten eggs. I headed for the Georgetown Hospital. After a two-hour wait and not being able to even get my bio-data recorded, I took the next best option in order to maintain my sanity. I went to a private facility.
I left an hour later with tablets and a messy-looking pink lotion that, when applied, made me look like the Pink Panther.
The days that followed were like a slow-motion movie clip. Much effort was needed to get very little done.
Then, a staff member of the Ministry of Public Health explained to me about mosquito-borne diseases, and I realised that I had missed the boat on Zika and Chikungunya.
HERE COMES RAIN
The rainy season arrived, and with it came trouble: an abundance of thick vegetation, which meant plenty of breeding places for droves of mosquitoes.
My only recourse was to return to my protective posture, and avoid at all cost anyone painted pink. I had no intention of being re-infected. I sought refuge under nets, a siege of long clothes, and bottles upon bottles of smelly repellent.
I also decided to do some research on the mosquito-borne diseases prevalent in Guyana, and got quite a shock by what I discovered.
The symptoms that I had were similar to those of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. I was now more confused than sick. Here are the facts:

SYMPTOMS

DENGUE CHIKINGUNYA ZIKA
1 Fever Fever Fever
2 Rash Rash ] Rash
3 Second Rash(Measles like) Fatigue Malaise(lack of energy)
4 Fatigue Joint Pain Joint Pain
5 Joint Pain Muscle Pain Headache
6 Muscle Pain Headache Red eye(conjunctivitis)
7 Headache (behind the eyes) Nausea
8 Nausea
9 Vomiting
10 Swollen lymph Nodes

FACT: The main carrier of these three diseases is the AEDES AEGYPTI. It has white markings on its legs, and marking in the form of a lyre on its thorax.
FACT: Mosquito bites during the day: early morning and evening.
FACT: Infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications.
FACT: There is no specific medicine to treat Dengue Fever.
FACT: There is no cure for Chikungunya/Zika

PREVENTION
1: Use mosquito repellent/coils.
2: Use mosquito nets.
3: Long clothes.
4: Eliminate man-made breeding places, such as open water containers, tyres, plastic bags, coconut shells etc. Throw away water in plant saucers.
5: Empty and clean receptacles used by domestic animals.
6: Change water in vases regularly.
7: Clean roofs, gutters and drains.
8: Introduce larva-eating fish to large bodies of water.
9: Spread a film of kerosene oil on pools of stagnant water.
10: Screen all windows and doors.
11: Cover and seal all septic tanks, soak-aways and storage tanks.
12: Avoid outdoor activities during peak biting hours of dusk and dawn.

The ache has long gone; the rash is still hanging around. Mosquitoes are everywhere. Day and night, I have to be battling them. Whenever the mosquito orchestra strikes up, I seek refuge under a net, or beneath a thick barrier of clothes: Winter clothing!
Ignore rumours of a pink zombie. It’s only me trying to survive the Aedes aegypti assault.