Chikungunya fever — symptoms, transmission methods, treatment

On Friday, August 29, the first imported case of chikungunya fever was detected in Russia in 2025. According to a source from Izvestia, two Russians from Balashikha near Moscow became infected while on vacation in Sri Lanka. They were hospitalized in a moderate condition and are under medical supervision. Izvestia tells about the symptoms and methods of transmission of chukungunya fever.

What is chikungunya fever?

Chikungunya fever is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, which is characterized by a sharp increase in fever and joint pain. Its causative agent, the chikungunya virus, belongs to the togavirus family. It was first identified in Tanzania in 1952. The name "chikungunya" is translated from the Makonde language (a people living in southern Tanzania) as "twisted" and describes the pose of an infected person suffering from acute joint pain.

According to the World Health Organization, to date, chikungunya has been detected in 110 countries in Asia, Africa and South America, while the disease continues to spread in countries where a significant part of the population does not have immunity. In Europe, mostly imported cases are registered.

A mosquito has arrived: deadly chikungunya fever has been registered in Russia

Doctors reassured that the disease is not transmitted from person to person.

In Russia, the risk of spreading chikungunya fever is extremely low — the climate in most regions is not suitable for the reproduction of mosquito vectors and the virus itself. In addition, Rospotrebnadzor regularly monitors the number of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the country, and the Perimeter system operates on the border with other states, which helps identify people with signs of infectious diseases.

How is the Chikungunya virus transmitted

The chikungunya virus is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti (yellow-bordered mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) mosquitoes. These insects are also carriers of dengue and Zika fevers. They feed not only at night, but also during the day, which significantly increases the risk of spreading various infections. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, including artificial reservoirs (vases, barrels, pits, etc.).

Chikungunya enters the body of a mosquito when it bites an infected person. The virus multiplies in the insect's body, spreads to its salivary glands, and is transmitted to a healthy person with the next bite. It is impossible to get fever from a patient through household contact - its pathogen quickly dies under the influence of high temperatures, antiseptics, ultraviolet radiation and other environmental factors.

There is a theory that the chikungunya virus can be transmitted through contact of a healthy person's blood with the blood of a sick person (for example, through transfusion, sharing syringes, etc.). However, no such cases have been reported.

Symptoms of chikungunya fever

The incubation period of chikungunya fever lasts on average 4-8 days, but the first signs of malaise may appear within 2-12 days. The main symptoms of the disease include:

• a sharp rise in temperature;
• severe joint pain, accompanied by swelling and decreased mobility;
• headache, fatigue;
• nausea;
• papular (tubercular) rash.

Most often, patients with chikungunya recover completely in 7-10 days. However, joint pain in some patients may persist for several weeks or even months. Sometimes patients have complications related to damage to the eyes, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous systems.

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An increase in the number of cases is recorded in endemic areas.

A severe form of chikungunya fever can lead to multiple organ failure and death. However, such cases are extremely rare, they are usually observed in young children in the first months of life and elderly people with other concomitant diseases.

Treatment and prevention of chikungunya fever

There is no specific treatment for chikungunya fever, the therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms. Patients are prescribed bed rest, heavy drinking, antipyretics, painkillers and antihistamines.

Prevention of chikungunya fever is aimed at reducing the likelihood of contact with vector mosquitoes. Rospotrebnadzor recommends that Russians vacationing in countries with an unfavorable epidemic situation adhere to the following rules:

• Use repellents;
• wear closed clothes;
• install mosquito nets on doors and windows, use bed curtains;
• at the first symptoms of malaise, immediately consult a doctor and inform him about your stay in countries endemic to chikungunya fever.

Two vaccines against chikungunya fever have been approved for use in the United States. Similar drugs are also being developed in Europe. Vaccination is not yet provided in Russia.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the symptoms and prevention of tick-borne borreliosis.