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Chikungunya virus disease

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes to humans. The word ‘chikungunya’ means 'that which bends up', an allusion to the posture of the suffering patients. The most common clinical form associates fever, arthralgia and rash. Recovery is the usual outcome but chronic arthritis is not rare. Diagnostic tests are available but there is no antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine. The disease is notifiable at EU level.

The risk of the chikungunya virus spreading in EU is high due to importation through infected travellers, presence of competent vectors in many countries (particularly around the Mediterranean coast) and population susceptibility. Read more in the factsheet on chikungunya

Facts

Surveillance, threats and outbreaks

Prevention and control

The best protection against mosquito-borne diseases is preventing mosquito bites. Control measures include strengthening mosquito surveillance in areas in Europe at risk of importation of mosquitoes and virus transmission.

Communication

Following an outbreak of chikungunya in Italy and the increasing presence of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Europe, ECDC prepared a communications toolkit, with template materials with information and advice on chikungunya prevention and control.

Aedes aegypti - Factsheet for experts

Aedes aegypti is a known vector of several viruses including yellow fever virus, dengue virus chikungunya virus and Zika virus.

Mosquito maps

Maps of surveillance activities and current known distributions of mosquito species in Europe and neighbouring regions.

Latest outputs

Publication

Communicable disease threats report, 22-28 August, week 34

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Publication

Communicable disease threats report, 25-31 July 2021, week 30

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Publication

Communicable disease threats report, 27 June-3 July 2021, week 26

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Publication

Communicable disease threats report, 23-29 May 2021, week 21

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Publication

Communicable disease threats report, 18-24 April 2021, week 16

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Data

Mosquito-borne diseases: An emerging threat

Infographic -

Data

Poster with information for travellers

Poster -

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Risks related to chikungunya infections among European Union travelers, 2012-2018

Jun 2020

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Specialist laboratory networks as preparedness and response tool - The emerging viral diseases-expert laboratory network and the chikungunya outbreak, Thailand, 2019

Apr 2020

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Past and future spread of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

May 2019

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Reviewing estimates of the basic reproduction number for dengue, Zika and chikungunya across global climate zones

Mar 2019

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Using big data to monitor the introduction and spread of Chikungunya, Europe, 2017

Jan 2019

Related diseases

Disease / public health area

Dengue

Disease / public health area

Japanese encephalitis

Disease / public health area

Malaria

Disease networks

Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet)

European network for medical and veterinary entomology (VectorNet)