Following a spike in chikungunya cases in Telangana, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a ‘Level 2’ travel advisory for U.S. travellers returning from Telangana.
What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread through the bite of infected Aedesaegypti mosquitos. These mosquitos also carry and spread dengue and the Zika virus.
This viral disease is caused by the Chikungunya virus. It belongs to the Togavirus
The virus can be found in many parts of the world, including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The virus belongs to a group of viruses called Other alphaviruses causing a similar disease include Mayaro virusand Ross River virus.
Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. While most individuals recover within a week, severe joint pain can persist for months or even years in some cases.
People at higher risk of severe illness include newborns, older adults and those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure.