Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a virus that spread by the same kinds of mosquitoes that spread dengue and Zika virus. Rarely, the virus can spread from the pregnant parent to their newborn around the time of birth. It may also spread through contact with infected blood. There have been outbreaks of chikungunya virus in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Most people who have chikungunya will have symptoms, which can be severe. They usually start 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash.
Most people feel better within a week. In some cases, however, the joint pain may last for months. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns, older adults, and people with diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
A blood test can show whether you have chikungunya virus. There are no medicines to treat it. Drinking lots of fluids, resting, and taking non-aspirin pain relievers might help you feel better.
In the U.S., there is a vaccine for adults who are at a higher risk of getting chikungunya. You can also help prevent getting or spreading chikungunya by avoiding mosquito bites:
- Use a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent when you go outdoors. Make sure to follow the instructions for using the repellant.
- Wear clothes that cover your arms, legs, and feet.
- Stay in places that either have air conditioning (with the windows closed) or that use window and door screens.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Infections.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Chikungunya
95 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Prospective Safety Cohort Study After VLA1553 Vaccination in Municipalities Selected for Participation in the VLA1553 Pilot Vaccination Strategy in BrazilValneva Austria GmbH
- VLA1553-403 Pregnancy Surveillance StudyValneva Austria GmbH
- Observational Study to Assess the Effectiveness of VLA1553 Vaccine in Preventing Chikungunya During a Pilot Vaccination Strategy in BrazilValneva Austria GmbH
- Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of the Co-administration of Live Attenuated Dengue and Chikungunya Vaccines Compared to Separate Administration in Adults Aged 18 to 59 Years.Butantan Institute
- Antibody Persistence And Long Term Safety Of A Chikungunya Virus Vaccine (VLA1553)Valneva Austria GmbH
- Smart Analysis and Decision-Making for Emerging Infectious DiseasesPeking University
Research already completed
- Investigating Vector-Borne Determinants of Aedes Transmitted Arboviral Infections in Cambodia: An Observational Longitudinal Cohort Study in ChildrenNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- A Multicenter Study to Evaluate Safety and Immunogenicity of a Live-attenuated Chikungunya Vaccine in AdolescentsButantan Institute
- Using Digital Technology for the Prevention of Aedes-Borne Diseases in Colombian CommunitiesUniversity of Freiburg
- Trial of an Inactivated Chikungunya Virus VaccineNajit Technologies, Inc.
- Post-Chikungunya Rheumatism - Rheumatology Follow-up of Patients After 15 YearsCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Réunion
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Learn More
- About ChikungunyaCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- ChikungunyaPan American Health Organization
- Find the Repellent that is Right for YouEnvironmental Protection Agency
Symptoms
- ChikungunyaNemours Foundation
Statistics and Research
- Chikingunya Virus in the United StatesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Chikungunya FeverNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Chikungunya Fever, Chikungunya virus. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Chikungunya, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.