Chikungunya
Chikungunya (not Chickengunya!) is a viral disease carried by mosquitoes. It can cause typical viral symptoms such as body aches, chills, and a rash, but often also involves very rapidly increasing fever (over 102 F) and severe joint pains that can last well beyond the end of the illness.
Visit Dr. Julian Klapowitz at Travel Medicine Consultations to review Chikungunya, receive the Chikungunya vaccine, and learn how to avoid the disease.
What are the symptoms of Chikungunya?
Chikungunya can resemble other viral infections carried by mosquitoes, causing muscle aches, fever, lack of energy, sore throat, and rashes for up to a week. Very severe joint pains and very high fever (over 102) distinguish Chikungunya from Dengue (abdominal symptoms, bruising/bleeding, fluid retention) and Zika (less severe symptoms overall, in most cases). The joint pains can last for weeks or even months after the illness.
Places where Chikungunya is common:
Chikungunya is commonly found in Central and South America, Asia/Southeast Asia, and Central Africa. CDC Map and Country Outbreak List Chikungunya.
How To Avoid Chikungunya:
see: Insect Avoidance!
Chikungunya Vaccine NYC:
IXCHIQ (Chikungunya Vaccine), a “live” vaccination, became available in the US in November 2023. It is currently recommended for people aged 18 and over who are traveling to a country where there is an active outbreak. The vaccine is also recommended for people traveling to a country where Chikungunya is common (no recent “outbreak”) who are over age 65 traveling for two weeks or more OR anyone 18 and over who will be in the country (ies) more than six months. PLEASE NOTE: As of 5/12/25, the FDA and CDC are recommending a PAUSE in prescribing the vaccination for over age 60 due to reports of significant side effects. At Travel Medicine Consultations, we are pausing use of IXCHIQ in all patients. VIMKUNYA was approved by the FDA on February 14th, 2025. However, due to the fact that it is quite new and IXCHIQ use has recently been limited, we are holding off administering VIMKUNYA currently.
For more information about Chikungunya, book a visit with Travel Medicine Consultations.