What is it?
Chikungunya is an infectious disease caused by a virus. The chikungunya virus occurs mainly in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the southern United States, the Caribbean and around the Indian Ocean.
In most cases, infection leads to symptoms which, particularly in the acute phase, may include:
- sudden onset of a high fever
- severe joint pain
- headache
- muscle pain
- skin rash
- eye problems
Acute symptoms after infection may clear up again within 1–3 weeks, while joint pain can persist for months or even years. Complications and death as a result of infection are not often seen.
How do you catch it?
Anyone can catch chikungunya. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, in particular the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito, which bite during the day. These mosquitoes can also transmit other diseases such as dengue and zika. The incubation period is on average 1 to 12 days.
How do you prevent it?
You can reduce the risk of infection with the chikungunya virus by lowering your chances of being bitten by a mosquito. The mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya are particularly active in the early morning and late afternoon. You can protect yourself by wearing clothing that covers the skin, using mosquito nets and applying mosquito repellent during the times when the mosquitoes are active. There is no vaccine available against chikungunya.
The above description is only a general, concise and simplified overview and is intended for information purposes only. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Health Physician or Travel Health Assistant.