‘Planning a trip to Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or southern China? The CDC would like a word. The agency has issued Level 2 travel advisories — “practice enhanced precautions” — for all four destinations due to outbreaks of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus with no treatment and a name that sounds like it was invented to be unpronounceable by English speakers. Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand are also flagged as higher-risk destinations.

…Chikungunya won’t likely kill you, but it will make you miserable. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, headaches, muscle aches, swelling, and rash, typically showing up three to seven days after a mosquito bite. Most people recover within a week. The virus is vaccine-preventable, though, so if you’re heading to affected areas, get the shot and bring the bug spray.…’ (Ellsworth Toohey via Boing Boing)