Chikungunya virus: Have you heard of it?

Updated on June 26, 2026

Quick overview

• Chikungunya is a viral illness spread by infected mosquitoes, first identified in Tanzania in 1952
• The name means "to become contorted" — a nod to the severe joint pain it causes.
• Symptoms include fever, rash, headaches, and intense joint swelling, typically lasting about a week
• The virus spread from sub-Saharan Africa to the Caribbean, where local mosquitoes began carrying it in 2013
• Removing standing water and avoiding peak mosquito hours can help reduce your risk of exposure.

A new mosquito-borne illness has surfaced in the United States, causing painful symptoms and leaving many people on high alert. The disease, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is raging in the Caribbean and is being carried back to the US by travelers.

Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The virus, first described in 1952, is believed to have originated in Tanzania in southeast Africa. It has since spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the islands of the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

In 2013, health experts identified the first cases in the Caribbean and determined that local mosquitoes were carrying the disease. The virus is widespread, with up to 17 Caribbean countries reporting cases.

Symptoms of the chikungunya virus

The name “Chikungunya” is derived from a southeast African word in the Kimakonde language, which means “to become contorted” and describes the stooped appearance of joint pain sufferers. Symptoms start four to eight days after the mosquito bite (range from two to 12 days). 

Symptoms typically resolve within a week, although some people may experience long-term joint pain.

Chikungunya is generally not fatal, but the painful symptoms have led people to say, “It won’t kill you, but it may make you wish you were dead.”

Typical symptoms of chikungunya infection include:

• Severe joint pains (especially in the hands and feet)
• Fever
• Headaches
• Muscle pain
• Rash
• Joint swelling

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 new cases of chikungunya virus disease have been reported in the U.S. as of September 5, 2019. To date, no locally transmitted cases have been reported in the U.S. All reported cases have occurred in people who recently traveled to an affected area.

How you can help prevent the spread of chikungunya and other mosquito-borne Illnesses

Chikungunya, West Nile virus, and other public health threats have become an issue across the United States in recent years. Citizens are asking what they can do to protect themselves, even in their own backyards.

To reduce your risk of exposure, learn more about our mosquito control services.

What can you do at home?

• Eliminate or reduce mosquito breeding areas by removing all standing water at least once per week. This includes birdbaths, ponds, and unfiltered pools.
• Remove unneeded vegetation or trash from around any standing water sources that cannot be changed, dumped, or removed.
• Introduce mosquito-eating fish such as gambusia, green sunfish, bluefish, and minnows to standing water.
• Seal and screen all windows, doors, and other openings.
• Avoid going outdoors when mosquitoes are most active: dusk or dawn.
• Use insect repellent on exposed skin whenever or wherever mosquitoes are likely to bite. The most effective repellents currently available contain the active ingredient DEET in concentrations up to about 35% (greater concentrations don’t offer better protection).
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long-legged pants, preferably treated with repellent.

To fight back against disease-carrying mosquitoes, partner with Ehrlich today. Contact us or give us a call on 888-984-0186.