Chikungunya

Chikungunya is an infection caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The disease was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania and named based on the Kimakonde words for "to become contorted". Symptoms include fever and joint pain. These typically occur two to twelve days after exposure. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and a rash. Symptoms usually improve within a week; however, occasionally the joint pain may last for months or years. The risk of death is around 1 in 1,000. The very young, old, and those with other health problems are at risk of more severe disease.

The virus is spread between people by two types of mosquitos: Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. They mainly bite during the day. The virus may circulate within a number of animals including birds and rodents. Diagnosis is by either testing the blood for viral RNA or antibodies to the virus. The symptoms can be mistaken for those of dengue fever and Zika fever. It is believed most people become immune after a single infection.

The best means of prevention are overall mosquito control and the avoidance of bites in areas where the disease is common. This may be partly achieved by decreasing mosquitos' access to water and by the use of insect repellent and mosquito nets. In November 2023 the USFDA approved an adults-only vaccine (Ixchiq) for prevention of the disease. Once infected and symptomatic, recommendations to patients should include rest, fluids, and medications to help with fever and joint pain.

In 2014, more than a million suspected cases occurred globally. While the disease is endemic in Africa and Asia, outbreaks have been reported in Europe and the Americas since the 2000s; in 2014, an outbreak was reported in Florida in the continental United States, but as of 2016 there were no further locally-acquired cases.