What are the symptoms of chikungunya fever and how does it spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the risk of a large-scale chikungunya virus epidemic worldwide and calls for urgent action to prevent it. There are no risks of infection spreading in Russia, as chikungunya fever is not transmitted from person to person, but only through insect bites, according to Rospotrebnadzor.

What are the symptoms of the disease

Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus. Major outbreaks and cases of infection are recorded mainly in America, Asia and Africa, as well as in Europe.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to the signs of dengue and Zika fever, which makes diagnosis difficult:

sudden fever,

debilitating joint pain,

muscle pain,

headache,

nausea,

fatigue,

rash.

The main route of transmission of the dangerous virus is through bites from infected mosquitoes. The main carriers are two species: the Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes. The expansion of the tiger mosquito's range is occurring due to global warming caused by human activity. The insect is actively moving into northern regions.

WHO recommendations for protection against infection:

use of mosquito repellents;

control of water resources;

elimination of possible insect breeding sites;

maintaining clean water bodies near housing.