Chikungunya Disease, 2017

Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In late 2013, locally acquired cases appeared for the first time in the Americas on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, and the virus subsequently has spread throughout Central and South America. The virus is transmitted by the same Aedes spp. mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) that also transmit dengue and Zika viruses.

Unlike many other mosquito-borne viruses, most people who are infected with chikungunya develop symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, but patients may also experience headache, muscle aches, or rash. Symptoms usually begin 3-7 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, and most recover within a week. Joint pain may persist for weeks to years after the initial illness.

In 2017, 4 cases were reported in Minnesota residents. The median case age was 39 (range, 20 to 61 years). All 4 resided in the metropolitan area and symptom onsets occurred all year, from February through December. All represented imported infections acquired abroad, and travel occurred to many areas of the world. Three traveled to Asia, while one visited South America.

Although national data are not final at the time of this report, nationwide, chikungunya cases were reported from at least 27 states. All cases in U.S. residents were acquired while traveling abroad, and no local transmission occurred in the continental United States in 2017.

• For up to date information see>> Mosquito-borne Diseases
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2017