What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a virus that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The resulting illness is also called Chikungunya. It was originally described in the early 1950s after an outbreak in a Swahili village on the Makonde plateau that lies between Tanzania and Mozambique. The translation of Chikingunya from Makonde means “illness of the bended walker,” “that which bends up,” stooped over, walking bent over, or “bended walker.” In India, it is known as Aakyda, meaning “stiff man” and Maakyda meaning “monkey-like”. These words refer to the arthritic condition that occurs in some patients which gives rise to a stooped posture. The virus was first found in Asia, isolated in Bangkok, Thailand in 1958.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus endemic to tropical areas of Asia and Africa. The disease was first extensively documented in the 1950s, and it is a serious problem in some tropical regions, with outbreaks tending to take on a cyclical nature which can cause the disease to come and go. No cure or vaccine is available, making the best practice avoidance of situations in which an infection could occur. Several laboratories are working on treatments or vaccines which could be used to manage or eliminate chikungunya. The symptoms of chikungunya are very similar to those of dengue fever. Within four days of being infected, the patient develops a fever, and he or she often experiences a rash, headaches, and sensitivity to light. As the fever fades, the patient develops joint pain which can persist for years after the infection. Patients can experience lifelong problems which can result in a contorted posture as a result of damage to the joints. The joint pain is also extremely severe,
Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Typically the Aedes aegypti mosquito (tiger mosquito) spreads the disease. The World Health Organisation says there are also other competent mosquito vectors that infect the disease that are found in Africa, South-East Asia, southern India and Pakistan. Primarily, it occurs during the rainy season.
