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 and how to avoid it.

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 2024.

How To Avoid Chikungunya:

see: Insect Avoidance!

Chikungunya Vaccine NYC:

IXCHIQ (Chikungunya Vaccine) 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.

For more information about Chikungunya, book a visit with Travel Medicine Consultations.