Chikungunya

Chikungunya (in the Makonde language "that which bends up") virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness.

CHIKV infection causes an illness with a similar mode of transmission as dengue fever, with an acute febrile phase lasting two to five days, followed by a longer period of joint pains in the extremities. The pain associated with CHIKV infection of the joints may persist for weeks or months, or in some cases years. Prevention is via mosquito control and preventing bite by infected mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment with medications used to help with symptoms.

Some of the cases happened in Singapore recently.