Chikungunya: A disease that brings more than just fever
INFONUGGETS: Chikungunya
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Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Chikungunya virus, an RNA alphavirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. First identified in Tanzania in 1952, the name means “to become contorted”, referring to the severe joint pain that bends the patient’s posture.
The infection presents with sudden high fever, intense polyarthralgia, rash, headache and fatigue. Unlike dengue, Chikungunya rarely causes haemorrhage, but prolonged joint pain can persist for months, affecting productivity and quality of life.
In India, outbreaks typically coincide with the monsoon and post-monsoon season, supported by stagnant water, high humidity and urban crowding. Surveillance is managed by the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), which integrates lab confirmation, case monitoring and vector indices.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine for Chikungunya. Management is symptomatic through hydration, rest and analgesics. Prevention relies on vector control, source reduction, larval habitat destruction and protection against daytime mosquito bites. Climate change, unplanned urbanisation and increased mobility have expanded vector habitats and intensified outbreaks.
For UPSC, Chikungunya connects to themes of urban public health, vector ecology, climate-linked diseases and India’s integrated vector-borne disease strategy.
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