Chikungunya is an arboviral infection transmitted to humans by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Transmission occurs through mosquito bites, with outbreaks reported across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.
Following a bite from an infected mosquito, signs typically appear 3 to 7 days later. The clinical picture is dominated by fever and severe joint pain.
Other possible manifestations include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. Most patients recover within about a week, but a subset experiences prolonged arthralgia that can persist for months or years after acute illness.
Mortality is rare. High-risk groups for severe disease include newborns infected around birth, older adults (65 years and older), and individuals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
The source notes uncertainty regarding specific incidence or case fatality rates; no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is described in the available content. Clinicians should consider chikungunya in returning travelers with compatible symptoms and exposure history.
CDC Travelers' Health Notices published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 10 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Level 2 - Chikungunya in Mayotte.
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