Chikungunya reported among US travelers returning from affected areas in the Americas.
Local transmission identified in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.8
Chikungunya:
Frequent. Widespread.1 Unpredictable.2
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is most common in tropical and subtropical regions, but outbreaks have occurred in most parts of the world.2,3
North america
Caribbean sea
2013
First local transmission of chikungunya in the Americas identified in Caribbean countries and territories—meaning that mosquitoes in the area are infected with the virus and spreading it to people.8
South america
2023
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Brazil has the highest chikungunya burden in the world.22
Brazil:~243,000 cases
Paraguay:~123,000 cases
EUROPE
2007–2017
Due to climate change and other factors, Aedes mosquitoes continue to spread to new places,24 such as Italy (2007 and 2017) and France (2010, 2014, and 2017).2
Africa
2023
Burkina Faso: 473 cases
Senegal: 220 cases
Mali: 8 cases
Other countries with evidence of CHIKV transmission among humans (2019–2024):
Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sudan.22,23
INDIAN OCEAN Islands
2006–2013
About 28 people per year tested positive for chikungunya virus in the US. All were returning from affected areas in Asia, Africa, or the Indian Ocean.8
ASIA
2023
India: 93,465 cases
Thailand: 1277 cases
Malaysia: 177 cases
Pakistan: 18 cases
Other countries with evidence of CHIKV transmission among humans (2019–2024):
Cambodia, China, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.22,23
PACIFIC ISLANDS
2023
Philippines: 2561 cases
Other countries with evidence of CHIKV transmission among humans (2019–2024):
Indonesia.22,23
Over the past 50 years, chikungunya outbreaks have grown in size, reach, and severity.4 In 2023, about 500,000 cases of chikungunya—including over 400 deaths—were recorded worldwide.5
WHY ARE OUTBREAKS BECOMING MORE COMMON?
Climate change,6 population growth, and global travel4 have helped create suitable conditions for Aedes mosquitoes in Europe6,7 and the United States (US),8 which contributes to the spread of chikungunya.
OVER 75% OF PEOPLE INFECTED WITH CHIKV DEVELOP SYMPTOMS
including severe joint pain, fever, and headache.4,9,*
Most people experienced high fever and severe joint pain.
Additional symptoms included muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
OVER 40% OF PEOPLE CAN GET LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS
that last for months or even years after the initial infection.9,10,†
Most had pain or arthritis in multiple joints.
Others had fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders.10
In rare cases, chikungunya can also cause serious ocular, cardiac, and neurological complications.11,12
Arthralgia can be a significant burden on daily life, from being able to work
to doing everyday things like walking, cooking, and bathing.13
to doing everyday things like walking, cooking, and bathing.13
HOW CHIKUNGUNYA SPREADS
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by the Aedes mosquito.14 These species can thrive in many environments, and are found in rural and urban areas worldwide.15
A person can become infected when a mosquito bites them after it has fed on someone with the virus.1 Chikungunya cannot be transmitted directly to another person through coughing, sneezing, or touching. However, if a pregnant person is infected when they give birth, the baby can become infected, which often results in severe disease.16
Symptoms typically appear 2–6 days after the bite.14 During this period, virus levels in the blood are high enough to spread chikungunya to more mosquitoes, and so to more people.16
UNDERREPORTED AND CHALLENGING TO DIAGNOSE
Due to similar manifestations and co-circulation, and possible co-infection, it can be difficult to discern between illnesses like chikungunya, dengue, and Zika.14
Despite co-circulation being common, people presenting with “dengue fever–like” symptoms are rarely tested against all 3 of these arboviruses.17
58.8%
More than half of patients with chikungunya infection were diagnosed inaccurately
based on clinical manifestations in a study in Nicaragua (2015–2016).17
NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT
Unfortunately, there is no antiviral treatment for chikungunya. Care is limited to alleviating symptoms through methods like antipyretics and analgesics, fluid intake, and rest.1,14
That’s why it’s so crucial to prevent chikungunya.
How can I help protect my patients?
Aedes mosquitoes are more active during the day, and some are aggressive biters—even indoors.18 So traditional prevention methods may not offer enough protection on their own.4
That's because any bite from Aedes mosquitoes puts people at risk.19 So asking your patients to use bug spray and wear long sleeves and long pants may not be reliable enough to help them avoid chikungunya.14 And even your most careful patients probably won’t spend their whole vacation indoors.
That’s where VIMKUNYA comes in—the first and only VLP vaccine for chikungunya.20,21
