Valneva

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne, viral disease present in over 110 countries. (source)

For further information please contact your physician or pharmacist.

Key facts

  • Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV).(1)
  • Chikungunya has been identified in over 110 countries.(1)
  • Areas with the greatest risk are the Americans, parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.(1)
  • Climate change is driving the spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses, like
    chikungunya,(2,3) with chikungunya outbreaks occurring more frequently in recent years in the Americas and in Europe.(4,5)
  • All travelers to endemic regions are at risk for infection.(6,7)
  • Diagnosis of chikungunya is challenging due to its similarities to dengue and Zika virus(1,8,9) and may result in an underestimation of cases.(10)
  • Up to 97% of those infected develop symptoms, most frequently high fever and joint
    pain.(11)
  • The potentially debilitating chronic form can affect up to 43% resulting in consequences that can last from months to years.(12)
  • Preventative measures are limited, compliance is low.(11,13,14) A vaccine against CHIKV has been approved in the US, Canada and Europe.(15)
  • There is no cure or treatment for chikungunya.(11)

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV).(1) "Chikungunya" means "to become contorted" in the African Kimakonde language, describing the effects of chikungunya-related persistent joint pain.(1,14)

Where does Chikungunya occur?

75% of the world’s population is estimated to live in areas at risk of chikungunya.(16) The areas of greatest risk for travelers are the Americas, parts of Africa, and Southeast Asia.(1)

–

Figure: Countries where chikungunya has been identified.(1)

Chikungunya has been identified in over 110 countries.(1) Climate change is driving the spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses, like chikungunya,(2,3) with outbreaks occurring more frequently in recent years in the Americas and in Europe.(4,5) From 2014 to 2023, more than 3.7 million cases of CHIKV have been reported in the Americas(4) and between 2012 and 2018, thirteen EU countries reported 2,616 travel-related chikungunya cases.(5)

Who is at risk of contracting Chikungunya?

Chikungunya often causes large, explosive and unpredictable outbreaks, affecting up to 3/4 of the population.(7,11) All travelers to endemic regions are at risk for infection.(6,7)

What are the symptoms and lasting effects of Chikungunya?

Up to 97% of those infected develop symptoms, most frequently high fever and joint pain.(11) Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint pain, red eyes, nausea, vomiting or raised bumpy rash.(11,14)

The potentially debilitating chronic form can affect up to 43% resulting in consequences that can last from months to years.(12) A study showed that 57% of patients were still somewhat affected by the disease after 2.5 years.(17) In another study, 78.6% of patients had persistent muscle and joint symptoms after 2 years.*(18)

*According to a 2008 questionnaire of 175 individuals previously diagnosed with chikungunya virus.(18)

How is Chikungunya diagnosed?

CHIKV infections can be diagnosed by detecting genomic sequences in clinical specimens by RT-PCR. A definitive diagnosis relies on virus detection during the viremic phase (the first 7 days).(19)

However, clinical diagnosis of chikungunya can be challenging due to its similarities to dengue and Zika virus.(1,8,9) These similarities may result in the overall underestimation of chikungunya cases.*(10)

  • Similar main symptoms: Fever*, severe joint pain*, joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea fatigue and rash.(1)
    *Main chikungunya symptoms
  • Same vector of transmission: The aedes aegypti mosquito is likely the main vector for chikungunya, dengue fever and the Zika virus.(8,9)

How can Chikungunya be treated?

There is no cure or treatment for chikungunya.(11) Symptomatic relief with analgesics, antipyretics like acetaminophen, or anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen to control fever and joint pain is currently the only way to manage the symptoms of the disease.(12,20)

How to reduce the risk of being infected?

Preventative measures for chikungunya are limited to repellents and wearing long sleeves and pants, which provide no guarantee since one bite is enough to cause infection.(1,11) Overall there is a lack of compliance in the use of anti-mosquito protective measures.(13) A vaccine against CHIKV has been approved in the US, Canada and Europe.(15)

References

  1. World Health Organization. Chikungunya 2022 [updated 8 December 2022. Available from: www.who.int
  2. World Health Organization. World Health Day. 2022.
  3. Health Policy Watch. Climate Change Pushing an ‘Alarming’ Spread of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. 2023.
  4. Pan American Health Organization. Geographical spread of chikungunya in the Americas 2023. Available from: ais.paho.org.
  5. Gossner CM, Fournet N, Dias JG, Martínez BF, Del Manso M, Young JJ, et al. Risks Related to Chikungunya Infections among European Union Travelers, 2012-2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(6):1067-76.
  6. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease 2020, updated 5 April 2022.
  7. Wahid B, Ali A, Rafique S, Idrees M. Global expansion of chikungunya virus: mapping the 64-year history. Int J Infect Dis. 2017;58:69-76.
  8. Pan American Health Organization. 2023 [updated 13 February 2023. Available from: www.paho.org.
  9. Oidtman RJ, España G, Perkins TA. Co-circulation and misdiagnosis led to underestimation of the 2015-2017 Zika epidemic in the Americas. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(3):e0009208.
  10. Dinkar A, Singh J, Prakash P, Das A, Nath G. Hidden burden of chikungunya in North India; A prospective study in a tertiary care centre. J Infect Public Health. 2018;11(4):586-91.
  11. Staples JE HS, Powers AM. Center for Disease Control; 2020 [updated 10 January 2020.
  12. Paixão ES, Rodrigues LC, Costa M, Itaparica M, Barreto F, Gérardin P, et al. Chikungunya chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2018;112(7):301-16.
  13. Lalani T, Yun H, Tribble D, Ganesan A, Kunz A, Fairchok M, et al. A comparison of compliance rates with anti-vectorial protective measures during travel to regions with dengue or chikungunya activity, and regions endemic for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. J Travel Med. 2016;23(5).
  14. Thiberville SD, Moyen N, Dupuis-Maguiraga L, Nougairede A, Gould EA, Roques P, et al. Chikungunya fever: epidemiology, clinical syndrome, pathogenesis and therapy. Antiviral Res. 2013;99(3):345-70.
  15. Bundesministerium Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz; Impfplan 2024/25, online verfügbar: Impfplan Österreich (sozialministerium.at) (last accessed Dezember 2025)
  16. Puntasecca CJ, King CH, LaBeaud AD. Measuring the global burden of chikungunya and Zika viruses: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(3):e0009055.
  17. Doran C, Elsinga J, Fokkema A, Berenschot K, Gerstenbluth I, Duits A, et al. Long-term Chikungunya sequelae and quality of life 2.5 years post-acute disease in a prospective cohort in Curaçao. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16(3):e0010142.
  18. Essackjee K, Goorah S, Ramchurn SK, Cheeneebash J, Walker-Bone K. Prevalence of and risk factors for chronic arthralgia and rheumatoid-like polyarthritis more than 2 years after infection with chikungunya virus. Postgrad Med J. 2013;89(1054):440-7.
  19. Weaver SC, Lecuit M. Chikungunya virus and the global spread of a mosquito-borne disease. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(13):1231-9.
  20. Simon F, Javelle E, Cabie A, Bouquillard E, Troisgros O, Gentile G, et al. French guidelines for the management of chikungunya (acute and persistent presentations). November 2014. Med Mal Infect. 2015;45(7):243-63.

TBE (Tick-borne-encephalitis)

Learn more

Rabies

Learn more

Please use a modern web browser