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Introduction

Chikungunya fever describes the acute onset of fever, polyarthralgia, and rash after infection with the chikungunya virus (CHIKV)—an alphavirus transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes ( Figure 1).  The term "chikungunya" comes from a language spoken in Tanzania, where CHIKV was first discovered; it means "disease that bends up" in reference to its most prominent symptom (joint pain).  Although acute infection is typically self-limited, many patients develop chronic polyarthralgia/polyarthritis that can persist for months to years.

Epidemiology

The primary vectors of CHIKV are the mosquitos Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.  Infections occur in tropical and subtropical regions, with outbreaks occurring typically during the rainy season (when mosquito breeding/vector density is highest).  CHIKV has attained a worldwide distribution (

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