Erinome: Hello dear friends, today we are going to talk about Chikungunya fever in Foshan. Have you heard this news lately?
Enceladus: Chikungunya fever? Um, I’m not sure. What is it exactly? Is it a serious illness?
Erinome: Well, let’s start with the latest update. On August 9th, Foshan had a press conference about its prevention and control. They shared some good news!
Enceladus: Oh, really? What good news? Is the situation getting better?
Erinome: Yes! The number of new cases is going down a lot. Like, on July 19th, there were 674 new cases in a day. But by August 8th, it dropped to 148. Wow, that’s a big change!
Enceladus: Wow, that’s a huge drop! And it’s been going down for how long?
Erinome: Since July 29th, it’s been decreasing. And for the past 5 days, new cases have been below 200. The villages with the disease are also getting fewer. So防控 (fangkong, prevention and control) is working!
Enceladus: That’s great! What about the patients? Are most of them better now?
Erinome: Yes! More than 90% have recovered. And there are no severe cases or deaths. Isn’t that a relief?
Enceladus: Oh, that’s such good news! The oldest recovered patient is 95 years old, and the youngest is only 40 days? That’s amazing!
Erinome: Exactly! So the treatment is working for all ages. Now, what symptoms do people have when they get it?
Enceladus: I’m curious. Are the symptoms bad?
Erinome: Most are mild. The main ones are joint pain, fever, and rash. Let me remember the numbers… 90.1% have joint pain, 83.1% have fever, and 70% have a rash.
Enceladus: Oh, joint pain is the most common? What about older people? Do they feel worse?
Erinome: Yes! People over 65 are more likely to have muscle pain, tiredness, or nausea. You know that? Their bodies are more sensitive maybe.
Enceladus: Hmm, that makes sense. How long do these symptoms last? Do they stay for a long time?
Erinome: Most people get better in about a week. The symptoms go away. And they didn’t find serious sequelae (houyizheng, long-term problems).
Enceladus: Sequelae? So no bad long-term effects? But wait, you said “most”… does that mean some people have problems?
Erinome: Oh right! A small number of people might have joint pain for a longer time. They need doctors to follow up and check.
Enceladus: So after recovering, they need to take care of their joints?
Erinome: Exactly! For 3 months, they should be careful. No heavy things, no climbing mountains, no long running. Because the disease mainly affects joints.
Enceladus: Oh, so avoid those activities. What if they need to move around?
Erinome: Wear protective gear, like knee pads or elbow pads. To protect the joints from getting hurt again.
Enceladus: And if the joint pain doesn’t go away, what should they do?
Erinome: Go to a rehabilitation clinic! Get more treatment to recover.
Enceladus: Got it. Now, how do we prevent getting Chikungunya fever? It’s spread by mosquitoes, right?
Erinome: Yes! Mosquitoes are the main way. So we need to kill mosquitoes and clean up standing water. Because mosquitoes lay eggs in water.
Enceladus: Oh right! Like flower pots, old bottles, or buckets with water. Clean those up!
Erinome: Yep! And at home, use mosquito nets, window screens. Wear light-colored long sleeves and pants when going out.
Enceladus: What about mosquito repellent? Should we use that?
Erinome: Yes! Put on repellent with DEET or other safe ingredients. Avoid staying in shady places, like under trees or near grass, when mosquitoes are active.
Enceladus: If someone feels fever, joint pain, or rash, what should they do?
Erinome: Go to the hospital quickly! Tell the doctor if they were bitten by mosquitoes or traveled to places with the disease.
Enceladus: Are there many hospitals for this? Can people go nearby?
Erinome: Yes! Foshan has 53 hospitals for it. If someone can’t move, call 12345. The hospital will send people to take samples at home.
Enceladus: That’s helpful. So no need to panic, just be careful and seek help early.
Erinome: Exactly! Most people recover fast, no serious problems. Just remember: clean water, protect from mosquitoes, take care of joints after recovery.
Enceladus: So the key points are: Foshan’s Chikungunya fever is getting better, most recover, mild symptoms, no serious sequelae, but take care of joints, and prevent mosquitoes!
Erinome: Yep! That’s all the important news. Okay, that's it for today. Let's talk again next time. Bye everyone!
Enceladus: Bye! Stay healthy and safe!
