Read condition-specific symptoms and clinical context for Chikungunya virus. A mosquito-borne fever whose joint pain can last long after it.
WHO describes chikungunya as a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by an alphavirus and transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that bite during daylight hours. Its name comes from a Kimakonde word of southern Tanzania meaning 'that which bends up', describing the posture of people with severe joint pain. Symptoms overlap with dengue and Zika, so cases can be misdiagnosed.
CDC states symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after an infected mosquito bite and that most infected people develop some symptoms. WHO puts onset at 4–8 days, with a range of 2–12 days.
Possible symptoms: Fever; Joint pain; Joint swelling; Muscle pain; Headache; Rash.
CDC states no medicines treat chikungunya itself and advises telling a healthcare provider when and where you travelled, because testing can distinguish chikungunya from dengue and Zika. People at risk of more severe illness include newborns infected around the time of birth, adults 65 and older, and people with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.