New York Confirms First Locally Acquired Case of Chikungunya Virus

A Nassau County, New York resident has recently been diagnosed with chikungunya, a virus spread by infected mosquitoes. Though this particular virus is common in East Africa and Asia, it’s rare within the U.S.

According to state officials, this particular case is the first locally acquired case of chikungunya ever reported in New York, and the first in the U.S. since 2019.

What Is the Chikungunya Virus?

Chikungunya virus is a disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. This virus is endemic in East Africa and parts of Asia, with outbreaks having also occurred in the Americas, Europe, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Generally, the chikungunya virus causes flu-like symptoms like fever, joint pain and swelling, muscle pain, headache, and sometimes a rash. While there’