An infected person cannot directly transmit the virus to another person. The disease is spread when a mosquito feeds on a person with the virus circulating in their blood. The mosquito can pick up the virus and spread it to another person through its bite. Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus. Proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya. Several methods can be used for diagnosis of chikungunya virus infection. Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), may confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-chikungunya antibodies. Blood tests can also look for similar viruses like dengue and Zika, which have similar symptoms.
Prognosis of Chikungunya
Most patients recover fully from the infection, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years.
Antipyretics to reduce feverAnalgesics for pain relief and to reduce feverDrinking plenty of fluidsRest
Prevention of Chikungunya
There is no vaccine or preventive drug for chikungunya, so the best way to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito bites. But there are potential vaccines being evaluated in clinical testing. Basic precautions should be taken by people traveling to high risk areas, including:
Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and other clothing that minimizes skin exposureUsing insect repellents on skin or clothingMaking sure indoor spaces have adequate screens to keep mosquitoes outUsing insecticide-treated mosquito nets over your bed if you sleep in the daytimeWearing mosquito netting over your face and neck, in addition to using gloves or repellents, if you spend a lot of time outdoors in areas with mosquitoesAvoiding travel to areas experiencing a chikungunya outbreakUsing mosquito coils and insecticide vaporizers during the daytime
Reducing the number of places that mosquitos breed around your home can cut down the population significantly. Some simple actions include:
Emptying water from containers, such as the saucers under potted plants, vases, buckets, and rain guttersCovering water containers that cannot be emptied, such as tanks or reservoirs that provide household waterGetting rid of old tires that may be left outsideKeeping garbage in closed plastic bags and other closed containers
Rare but serious complications include:
MyocarditisOcular disease (uveitis, retinitis)HepatitisAcute renal diseaseSevere bullous lesionsNeurologic disease such as meningoencephalitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, myelitis, or cranial nerve palsies
Outbreaks can be large and can lead to a significant percentage of a population in a certain contracting the disease. Past outbreaks include:
2005–2006 More than 272,000 were infected in the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius.2006 More than 1,500,000 were reported to be infected in India.2007 197 cases were reported in a coastal village in Italy.2014–2016 4,339 confirmed cases were reported in Puerto Rico (official surveillance reported 28,327 suspected cases).2020 The CDC reported significant outbreaks in Chad and Ethiopia.
A great resource from U.S. National Library of Medicine where you can search a database of more than 360,000 research studies in all 50 states and 219 countries. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, you can find information here about studies that are currently or soon to be recruiting including eligibility criteria, details on how they are being conducted and length of participation. The database also includes details of completed studies that may provide you with information about treatments and therapies soon to be in the pipeline. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) A program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), GARD offers reliable information on more than 6,500 conditions, including chikungunya. In addition to up-to-date information on the diseases, you can search a database of orphan drugs (treatments the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for rare diseases) to learn more about available treatments. If you can’t find the information you are looking for on the site, you can contact one of their information specialists by phone or email for answers to your questions. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) This patient advocacy organization has a mission to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by rare diseases, including chikungunya. On NORD’s website, you will find detailed information about your disease or disorder as well as guidelines to help you locate an experienced specialist. Additional reporting by Ingrid Strauch.
