Chikungunya Fever

Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus Infection


"Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These vectors also transmit dengue virus . Humans are the primary amplifying host for chikungunya virus, and most infected persons develop symptomatic disease.

The usual clinical manifestations are acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia with bilateral, symmetric joint pains that may be severe and debilitating. In most patients, symptoms improve within 1 week, but in some, joint pain may persist for months. Death is rare and occurs primarily in older adults.




Clinicians should consider chikungunya virus infection in patients with acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia, particularly if they have recently returned from areas with known virus transmission.

Because no specific treatment, vaccine, or preventive drug is currently available for chikungunya virus infection, treatment is palliative, including rest, fluids, analgesics, and antipyretics.

To prevent further transmission, infected persons should be protected from mosquito exposure during the first week of illness.

The best way to prevent chikungunya virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites by indoor use of air conditioning or screens and outdoor use of insect repellents, long sleeves, and pants.