Chikungunya Virus in Pakistan

Infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also transfer the dengue and Zika viruses, bite people and cause chikungunya, a viral disease. Rapid fever onset, excruciating joint and muscular pain, headache, nausea, exhaustion, and rash are the hallmarks of the illness. In certain cases, crippling joint pain can last for weeks or even months. The word "chikungunya" in Tanzanian and Mozambican Kimakonde means "to become contorted," alluding to the posture of those who are affected. Chikungunya has no known cure or vaccine; instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. The best defense against mosquito bites is to prevent them with repellents, nets, and the removal of breeding grounds.

How Does Chikungunya Spread?

Chikungunya spreads through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Here's how it happens:

1. A mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person who already has the chikungunya virus in their blood.
2. The virus takes four to eight days to flourish inside the mosquito.
3. When the infected mosquito bites another person, it injects the virus into their bloodstream.
4. The newly infected person may start showing symptoms within 4–7 days.

People do not immediately contract chikungunya from one another. However, during the first week of illness, an infected individual may act as a mosquito vector for the virus.

What are Chikungunya Symptoms?

Chikungunya symptoms usually appear 4–7 days following a mosquito bite. Some of the most common symptoms include:

1. Sudden high fever (often above 102°F or 39°C)
2. Severe joint pain – especially in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet
3. Muscle pain and body aches
4. Headache
5. Fatigue or weakness
6. Skin rash – usually appears 2 to 5 days after the fever starts
7. Nausea or vomiting (in some cases)

Most people recover within a week, but joint pain can last for weeks or months, especially in older adults. Chikungunya is rarely fatal, but the pain can be disabling.

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