Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral fever that is caused by the outbreak of a virus back in 1952. The virus causing the life-threatening fever is an RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) virus from the Togaviridae family’s alphavirus genus.
Chikungunya is transmitted by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most common varieties of mosquitoes responsible for chikungunya are Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. The mosquitoes usually bite during the day.
The signs and symptoms to look out for are quite similar to other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever. The first signs show up within a few days of the bite. The most general symptoms include:
Soon after you notice prolonged fever, joint pain or any other early symptoms that suspects chikungunya, book a consultation with Dr Rao. A blood test can easily diagnose the presence of the infecting virus.
