Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.
These mosquitoes can be found biting throughout daylight hours, although there may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon. After the bite of an infected mosquito, onset of illness occurs usually between 4 and 8 days but can range from 2 to 12 days.
It is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever frequently accompanied by joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pain is often very debilitating, but usually ends within a few days or weeks. Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.
If chikungunya cases are confirmed, the treatment is to mitigate pain and fever using anti-inflammatory drugs along with rest. Persistent joint pain may require analgesic and long-term anti-inflammatory therapy. Prevention is entirely dependent upon taking steps to avoid mosquito bites and elimination of mosquito breeding sites.