Chikungunya Virus Disease

It is a viral disease showing fever usually over 102 degrees Fahrenheit and polyarthritis. Arthritis appears on both sides of the body which can cause difficulty in movement. You may notice headache, muscle soreness, conjunctivitis, nausea and vomiting, and a patchy generalized rash (maculopapular). If tests are done by the doctor there is lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated creatinine, and elevated transaminases.  The incubation period is 1-12 days. Most of the symptoms are improved in 1 week but the joint symptoms can last months. Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) carry the disease. There is no person-to-person spread of the infection.

Treatment is comfort only. There is no vaccination. Protection should be focused on mosquito repellents.

The disease should be reported to the public health department. It is not native to this area and is found in countries mostly outside North America. Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Indian and Pacific Ocean countries.  

More information can be found here.

5/1/2024