Chikungunya virus
| Chikungunya | |
|---|---|
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| Rash from chikungunya | |
| Pronunciation | /ˌtʃɪkənˈɡʌnjə/CHI-kən-GUUN-yə |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| ICD-10 | A92.0 |
| ICD-9-CM | 065.4, 066.3 |
| DiseasesDB | 32213 |
| eMedicine | article/2225687 |
| MeSH | D018354 |
| Orphanet | 324625 |
| Chikungunya virus | |
|---|---|
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| Cryoelectron microscopy reconstruction of chikungunya virus. From EMDB entry EMD-5577 | |
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group IV ((+)ssRNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Togaviridae |
| Genus: | Alphavirus |
| Species: | Chikungunya virus |
Chikungunya is an infection caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Symptoms include the 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. Most people are better within a week; however, occasionally the joint pain may last for months. 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 the virus's RNA or antibodies to the virus. The symptoms can be mistaken for those of dengue fever and Zika fever. After a single infection it is believed most people become immune.
The best means of prevention is overall mosquito control and the avoidance of bites in areas where the disease is common. This may be partly achieved by decreasing mosquitoes' access to water and with the use of insect repellent and mosquito nets. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment as of 2016. Recommendations include rest, fluids, and medications to help with fever and joint pain.
While the disease typically occurs in Africa and Asia, outbreaks have been reported in Europe and the Americas since the 2000s. In 2014 more than a million suspected cases occurred. In 2014 it was occurring in Florida in the continental United States but as of 2016 there was no further locally acquired cases. The disease was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania. The term is from the Kimakonde language and means "to become contorted".
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