The New York State Department of Health has confirmed the first locally acquired case of chikungunya in the United States since 2019. The case, reported in Nassau County on Long Island, marks the first locally transmitted infection of the virus in New York and the first in the US in over six years. The infected person is believed to have contracted the virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus causes symptoms such as sudden fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, rash, and swelling. Most people recover within a week; some may experience persistent joint pain, which can last for months. Severe cases are rare, but the disease can be more dangerous

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