Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The name comes from the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted,” reflecting the severe joint pain it causes.
Symptoms: Sudden onset of high fever, severe joint pain (often debilitating), muscle pain, headache, fatigue, rash, and sometimes nausea or swelling. Symptoms typically appear 3–7 days after an infected mosquito bite and last about a week, though joint pain can persist for months or years in some cases.
