First identified during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya is a virus that is transmitted between humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The word chikungunya comes from the Kimakonde language. It means ‘to become contorted’, as the disease causes debilitating joint pain that induces a stooped appearance.
Between 2014 and 2017, there was a large outbreak across the Americas, with more than 2.5 million suspected cases of chikungunya recorded in the Caribbean islands, Latin America and the United States. More than 600 deaths were attributed to this disease during this period.
Causes
Chikungunya is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes bite during the day, usually just after sunrise and around sunset.
Symptoms
- Sudden fever
- Muscle and joint pain
- Rash
- Headache
- Fatigue
Chikungunya causes severe fever and debilitating joint pain, and shares some clinical signs with Zika and dengue, which sometimes leads to misdiagnosis in areas where these diseases are prevalent. Symptoms usually improve within a week; however, sometimes the joint pain may persist for months or even years.
More about chikungunya
- 1Where does chikungunya occur?
Chikungunya is most prevalent in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific. It also occurs in warmer parts of Europe. Chikungunya cases have been reported from more than 100 countries.
- 2How many people are affected by chikungunya?
Chikungunya occurs in sporadic outbreaks that are often separated by periods of more than 10 years, so it is difficult to assess the global burden of this disease, but the virus is widespread.
Between 53,000 and 330,000 cases are estimated to occur on average each year worldwide, but the 2014 epidemic in the Americas saw more than 1 million chikungunya cases reported in a single year.
- 3How does chikungunya spread?
Chikungunya spreads wherever Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are present. It is a virus transmitted between humans primarily by this mosquito, which is commonly found around homes and urban areas.
- 4How is chikungunya treated?
There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for chikungunya. Treatment primarily focuses on relieving symptoms with common medications.
- 5How can we help prevent chikungunya?
There is no vaccine for chikungunya.
Prevention relies on reducing exposure to mosquito bites, by removing mosquito breeding sites, using insecticides to suppress the mosquito population, and wearing protective clothing and repellents.
However, the World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method is showing promising results internationally, helping to block the transmission of chikungunya, as well as other viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, such as Zika, dengue and yellow fever.
Fact sheet
Download this information about chikungunya, its symptoms, treatments and prevention techniques.
