Chikungunya is a virus that spread by the same kinds of mosquitoes that spread dengue and Zika virus. Rarely, it can spread from mother to newborn around the time of birth. It may also possibly spread through infected blood. There have been outbreaks of chikungunya virus in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Most people who are infected will have symptoms, which can be severe. They usually start 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.

Most people feel better within a week. In some cases, however, the joint pain may last for months. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns, older adults, and people with diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.

A blood test can show whether you have chikungunya virus. There are no vaccines or medicines to treat it. Drinking lots of fluids, resting, and taking non-aspirin pain relievers might help.

The best way to prevent chikungunya infection is to avoid mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent
• Wear clothes that cover your arms, legs, and feet
• Stay in places that have air conditioning or that use window and door screens

KEY POINTS

• Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
• Symptoms can include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.
• There are no medicines to treat chikungunya virus disease (chikungunya).
• Vaccination is recommended for some travelers.

Overview

Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is a risk the virus can spread to unaffected areas by infected travelers.

The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

There are currently no medicines to treat chikungunya. The best way to prevent chikungunya is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Vaccination is recommended for some travelers.

Chikungunya is a virus spread to people by mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. Most people infected with chikungunya will develop some symptoms. The most common symptoms of infection are fever, joint pain and swelling. Others may include headache, muscle pain or rash that can last for a week or longer. These symptoms can be severe and disabling. The best way to prevent getting infected is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Key Facts

• Chikungunya virus is spread to people by two species of mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, more commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito.
• People infected with chikungunya virus develop fever and often joint pain. Once infected, a person becomes immune for life.
• There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no treatment for an infection.
• The best way to protect yourself and your family from chikungunya is to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.
• Chikungunya outbreaks have been identified in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. As of 2013, chikungunya has spread to the American Tropics.

Prevention Tips

• Traveling? Be prepared. For country specific travel recommendations, see www.cdc.gov/travel.
• Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya bite during the day. These mosquitoes live inside and outside.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Keep mosquitoes out of your home. Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Use insect repellent with one of these active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535. Always follow the label instructions.
• Do you have a fever with joint, muscle pain or a rash? See a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Tell your health care provider where you have traveled.
• If you are sick with chikungunya, protect your family from getting sick. Don’t let mosquitoes bite you during the first week you are sick!

Through mosquito bites

Aedes mosquitoes transmit chikungunya virus to people. These types of mosquitoes are found throughout much of the world.

• Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.
• Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus. They bite during the day and at night.

Rarely, from mother to child

• Chikungunya virus is transmitted rarely from mother to newborn around the time of birth.
• To date, no infants have been found to be infected with chikungunya virus through breastfeeding. Because of the benefits of breastfeeding, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed even in areas where chikungunya virus is circulating.

Rarely, through infected blood

• In theory, the virus could be spread through a blood transfusion. To date, there are no known reports of this happening.

• Most people infected with chikungunya virus will develop some symptoms.
• Symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
• The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
• Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
• Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling.
• Most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months.
• People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years), and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
• Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

• The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of dengue and Zika, diseases spread by the same mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya.
• See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above and have visited an area where chikungunya is found.
• If you have recently traveled, tell your healthcare provider when and where you traveled.
• Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to look for chikungunya or other similar viruses like dengue and Zika.

• There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus.
• Treat the symptoms:
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
  • Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding).
  • If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.
• If you have chikungunya, prevent mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.
  • During the first week of infection, chikungunya virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.
  • An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.

The most effective way to prevent infection from chikungunya virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites

Use Insect Repellent

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• DEET
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone

Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA’s search tool.

Tips for babies and children

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
• When using insect repellent on your child:
  • Always follow label instructions.
  • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
  • Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
    • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.

Tips for Everyone

• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
  • Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)

• We do not know the effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents.
• To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.
• Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Treat clothing and gear

• Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
  • Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
  • Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
  • Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.

  If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.

• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors

• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
• Use air conditioning, if available.
• Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
  • Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
  • Check indoors and outdoors.

Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas

• Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that does not have screens.
  • Buy a bed net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.
  • Choose a WHOPES-approved bed net: compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress.
  • Permethrin-treated bed nets provide more protection than untreated nets.
    • Do not wash bed nets or expose them to sunlight. This will break down the insecticide more quickly.

What is chikungunya?

Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

Symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Most people feel better within a week. In some people the joint pain may persist for months.

Who is at risk?

The mosquitoes that spread chikungunya virus are found in many countries throughout the world. Travelers going to countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans might be at risk for infection.

Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya bite during the day and at night.

What can travelers do to prevent chikungunya?

There are no vaccines or medicines that prevent chikungunya. Travelers can protect themselves against infection by taking the following steps.

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. If also using sunscreen, always apply insect repellent after sunscreen.
  • DEET
  • Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
  • IR3535
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone

Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA's search tool.

• Insect Repellent Tips for Babies and Children
  • Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
  • Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
  • When using insect repellent on your child:
    • Always follow label instructions.
    • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
    • Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
      • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
    • If also using sunscreen, always apply insect repellent after sunscreen.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin

• Use 0.5% permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
  • Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
  • Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
  • Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.
• If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
• Watch the CDC video How to Use Permethrin.

Keep mosquitoes out of your hotel room or lodging

• Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or window and door screens.
• Use a mosquito net if you are unable to stay in a place with air conditioning or window and door screens or if you are sleeping outside.

Sleep under a mosquito net

• Sleep under a mosquito net if you are outside or when screened rooms are not available. Mosquitoes can live indoors and bite during the day and night.
• Buy a mosquito net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.
• Choose a mosquito net that is compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress.
• Permethrin-treated mosquito nets provide more protection than untreated nets.
  • Permethrin is an insecticide that kills mosquitoes and other insects.
  • To determine if you can wash a treated mosquito net, follow the label instructions.

If you are bitten by mosquitoes, avoid scratching the bites and apply over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to relieve itching.

If you are bitten by mosquitoes, avoid scratching the bites and apply over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to relieve itching.

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare provider, and tell them about your travel. Avoid contact with other people while you are sick.