New York soccer fans who went to Brazil for the World Cup may bring back more than just special memories.
Senator Charles Schumer is bugging out about the possibility that fans attending the World Cup in Brazil could bring a contagious mosquito-born virus back to the United States.
The New York pol is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue an immediate health alert to doctors in New York and around the country, fearing that soccer fans returning from some of Brazil’s most remote regions could be infected with Chikungunya or Chik-V.
“Visitors could return home to their countries with memorabilia, photographs, great stories to tell and perhaps a very painful virus,” Schumer said at a press conference Sunday, while holding up a picture of a mosquito.
“The World Cup will serve as an incubator for this virus to spread.”
The Chik-V mosquito, known to carry the disease, is prevalent in Brazil.
The disease is rarely fatal, but can cause severe fevers, arthritic-like joint pain and swelling, headaches and rashes, Schumer said, adding that there have been three confirmed cases of Chik-V in New York.
“I feel that cases of the virus will rise in in New York as well as elsewhere,” he said.
In addition to alerting and educating doctors, The Senator called on the Department of Homeland Security to issue a “public emergency” that would mean increased inspections at U.S. ports of entry and additional scans of imported food products for travelers coming from Brazil.