Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Although rarely fatal, this disease can cause significant pain and prolonged disability, affecting the quality of life of those affected.
As of August 2025, China is experiencing its largest outbreak since 2008, with over 7,000 confirmed cases.
What Causes Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is an illness caused by an RNA virus of the same name, belonging to the Alphavirus genus. Its exact mechanism of action remains poorly understood, but it is believed that the virus primarily infects muscles, joints, tissues where white blood cells circulate, and in some cases, the central nervous system.
When a non-infected mosquito bites a person carrying the virus, it ingests the pathogen. The virus then replicates inside the mosquito and can be transmitted to another human through a subsequent bite.
How Is the Disease Transmitted?
Chikungunya is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus). Its vectors are female Aedes mosquitoes, recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white stripes. The two main species involved are Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.
- Aedes albopictus is found in mainland France.
- Aedes aegypti is present in the French Antilles, French Guiana, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia.
Both species also transmit other arboviruses such as dengue, yellow fever, and Zika virus. These mosquitoes typically bite during the day, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon.
Symptoms
After an incubation period of 2 to 10 days, chikungunya infection often leads to severe, disabling joint pain. The joints most commonly affected include wrists, fingers, ankles, feet, knees, and, less often, hips and shoulders.
Other frequent symptoms include:
- Headaches with fever
- Intense muscle pain
- Rash on the trunk and limbs
- Conjunctivitis
- Swollen cervical lymph nodes
- Gum or nose bleeding (in some cases)
Severe neurological complications, such as meningoencephalitis or peripheral nerve damage, can occur particularly in elderly individuals, immunocompromised patients, and newborns infected in utero.
Chikungunya is rarely fatal, and most deaths occur in patients with pre-existing health conditions. Fever and skin symptoms usually resolve within days, but joint pain can persist for weeks, months, or even years, especially in older patients.
The term “chikungunya” comes from the Makonde language (Southern Africa) and means “to walk bent over,” referring to the posture caused by intense joint pain.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on:
- Clinical symptoms
- Travel history to areas where the virus is endemic
- Laboratory tests (serology for antibodies and molecular biology tests like PCR to detect viral RNA)
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral therapy for chikungunya. Management focuses on symptom relief using painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should only be prescribed after ruling out dengue infection. In some severe cases, corticosteroids may be required.
Prevention
Preventing chikungunya mainly relies on vector control.
Individual protection measures include:
- Wearing long-sleeved clothing
- Applying mosquito repellents
- Using insecticides on clothing and bed nets
Community-level measures include:
- Large-scale insecticide spraying
- Eliminating stagnant water sources (flower pots, old tires, bulky waste) where mosquitoes breed
Vaccination Updates
- June 2024: The IXCHIQ vaccine received EU marketing authorization.
- March 2025: In response to an outbreak in Réunion Island, the French National Health Authority (HAS) recommended vaccination for at-risk individuals who have never been infected, including people aged 65+ and adults aged 18–64 with comorbidities.
- April 26, 2025: After three severe adverse events in elderly patients (80+) with comorbidities, French health authorities revised the recommendations. Vaccination is now only advised for adults aged 18–64 with comorbidities.
Global and National Epidemiology
In 2023, Aedes albopictus was detected in 80% of mainland French departments due to favorable temperatures, humidity, and increased travel from endemic regions.
Between January and July 2023, around 300,000 infections were reported worldwide, leading to over 300 deaths most cases occurred in Brazil and Paraguay.
Since its first identification in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya outbreaks have been recorded in more than 60 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Origin and History
Chikungunya virus was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania. The name comes from the Makonde language, meaning “that which bends up,” referring to the severe joint pain suffered by patients.
Transmission
Chikungunya is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Main vectors:
- Aedes aegypti predominantly in tropical regions
- Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) capable of surviving in temperate climates
Risk Areas in 2025
- Asia: China (Guangdong, Hunan), India, Sri Lanka
- Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Congo
- Americas: Brazil, Caribbean islands
- Europe: Sporadic cases linked to travel; higher summer risk in southern France, Italy, and Spain.
Prevention
There is currently no licensed vaccine for Chikungunya. Prevention focuses on:
-
Personal protection
- Apply mosquito repellents
- Wear long, light-colored clothing
- Use mosquito nets
-
Vector control
- Remove standing water (flower pots, buckets, gutters)
- Use targeted insecticides
2025 Health Updates
- China outbreak: Over 7,000 cases reported in Guangdong province.
- Travel alert: The U.S. CDC advises travelers to take enhanced mosquito protection measures.
- Research: Several vaccine candidates are in clinical trials, with promising results expected by 2026.
Conclusion
Chikungunya is not yet eradicable, but the risk can be greatly reduced with simple protective measures. With climate change and the spread of the tiger mosquito, awareness is essential even outside tropical zones.