A New York resident has tested positive for the mosquito-borne illness Chikungunya virus, with state health officials saying it is the first reported transmission of the virus in the U.S. since 2019.
Empire State health officials said on Tuesday that the virus was identified in a person living in Nassau County on Long Island. In a separate statement, health officials said the person began experiencing symptoms in August after traveling outside of the region but not out of the country.
Here is what to know about the Chikungunya virus:
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne illness first identified during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chikungunya virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito.
Both of these species of mosquitoes, which also transmit other diseases like Zika and yellow fever, are ubiquitous in the U.S. and survive well in urban environments during warm temperatures.
Bloodborne transmission of the virus is also possible, as cases have been documented among lab personnel handling infected blood, including among healthcare workers.
The CDC says that there have been rare cases of in utero transmission of the virus from infected mother to child, usually during the second trimester of pregnancy.
The rate of Chikungunya infections has increased in recent years, just as there has been an increase in other mosquito-borne illnesses, like West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika.
What are the symptoms and treatment options?
The most common symptoms of Chikungunya virus, according to CDC, are fever and joint pain, but other symptoms can include headache, muscle pain and weakness, joint swelling, and rash.
Seniors over age 65, newborns, and people with chronic conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease are most at risk of developing severe symptoms.
Symptoms usually start within three to seven days of infection, and most people recover within a week. Joint pain, however, can last for months after initial infection.
There are no current medications to treat Chikungunya, but rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines are recommended to relieve symptoms.
Preventing mosquito bites during the first week of illness is critical, however, as high levels of Chikungunya virus in the patient’s bloodstream can infect a new mosquito, which can then pass it on to others.
Although health authorities say fatalities from the disease are rare, the symptoms can be debilitating and last for several months in severe cases.
Where do outbreaks occur?
Chikungunya virus is most often spread in tropical climates, with most outbreaks occurring in Latin America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of August, there were approximately 317,000 Chikungunya disease cases and 135 deaths across 16 countries.
Chikungunya made headlines this summer following thousands of cases in China in the Foshan region, near Hong Kong, which previously did not have the disease. Chinese authorities implemented COVID-19-style lockdown measures to curb the spread.
Brazil has had the most cases this year so far, with nearly 229,000 total cases and 112 deaths, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
Is there a vaccine?
Travelers to regions where the Chikungunya virus is common are recommended to receive the vaccine before departing, but the immunization is not part of a routine vaccination schedule.
In May, the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC recommended a pause of the live-attenuated vaccine against Chikungunya, which used a weakened form of the virus to prompt an immune response to help prevent the disease.
The hold was placed due to several reports of older people experiencing severe adverse events from the vaccine, including cardiac and neurological emergencies, according to the CDC.
Although the FDA briefly lifted the pause in early August, the agency ultimately suspended the license for that version of the vaccine on August 22.
Another version of the vaccine, called Vimkunya, that does not use the live-attenuated virus particle, remains on the market for travelers to regions where the virus is common.
