Chikungunya Infections Can Cause Pain for Years

An analysis published in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease revealed that 86% of travelers diagnosed with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection over two years experienced joint pain, significantly impacting their quality of life.

Furthermore, 42.6% of patients with chronic arthralgia reported a recurrence of symptoms once they felt they had disappeared. 

Published on May 15, 2024, this study underscores the need for comprehensive pre-travel advice and the effective management of patients enhancing outcomes.

Additionally, an in-depth knowledge of this disease is essential for early identification, particularly in non-endemic areas with competent mosquito vectors for virus transmission. 

The World Health Organization says CHIKV was identified in nearly 115 countries in 2024, primarily in the Region of the Americas. In 2024, over 160,000 CHIKV cases and 50 deaths have been reported worldwide.

In the United States, the U.S. FDA-approved IXCHIQ® single-dose chikungunya vaccine is awaiting a commercial release in 2024.