Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a disease caused by the bite of a mosquito infected with the Chikungunya virus. Mosquitoes that can spread the virus are not normally found in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can only be infected with chikungunya overseas, mostly in tropical regions, including Africa, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Americas. Chikungunya can cause fever, rash and severe joint pain. Travellers to affected areas should avoid mosquito bites to prevent infection.
How chikunguya spreads
You can develop chikunguya infection if you are bitten by a mosquito that has been infected with the virus. It cannot be spread from person to person.
Symptoms of chikungunya
Chikungunya symptoms usually develop 7 to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms include:
- headache
- muscle pain
- arthritis
- eye swelling and redness (conjunctivitis)
- feeling sick (nausea) or throwing up (vomiting)
- rash which could look like red bumpy spots on the skin, usually on the trunk or limbs
- feeling very tired or weak.
Most people recover and feel better within a week of their symptoms starting. But some people can feel joint pain for months after being infected.
Those most at risk of becoming very sick include:
- newborn pēpi infected around the time of birth
- older people over 65
- people with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
Diagnosing chikungunya
If you have symptoms of chikungunya and have been to a country where it is found, contact your healthcare provider.
They will order blood tests to look for the disease or other similar viruses.
The role of public health
Chikungunya is a notifiable disease. This means that healthcare providers or laboratories will inform public health when someone has it. This way public health can investigate where they may have been infected and provide advice to any co-travellers.
Public health also has a role in making sure exotic mosquitoes do not become established in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Exotic mosquitoes — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (external link)
Treating chikungunya
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya. You can help yourself recover by:
- drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
- getting plenty of rest
- taking pain relief such as paracetamol at recommended doses.
Talk to your healthcare provider about what medicines you are already using before taking any more to manage your chikungunya symptoms.
Preventing chikungunya
There are currently no medications or vaccines to prevent chikungunya. The main method is to reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes while overseas.