chikungunya
noun
chik·un·gun·ya
ˌchi-kən-ˈgu̇n-yə 
ˌchi-ku̇ŋ-
: a febrile disease that resembles dengue, occurs especially in parts of Africa, India, and southeastern Asia, and is caused by a togavirus (species Chikungunya virus of the genus Alphavirus) transmitted especially by aedes mosquitoes
Chikungunya is rarely fatal but can cause severe fevers, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and muscle and joint pains.—
Martin Enserink
Martin EnserinkExamples of chikungunya in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading Zika and chikungunya viruses.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Oxitec genetically engineered the Aedes aegypti mosquito which causes Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Climate change can also alter the distribution of mosquitoes—which can carry West Nile virus, dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
—Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024
Treatment and prevention For those who have been exposed and have symptoms, a blood test can confirm the presence of chikungunya or other similar viruses.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
The chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
Some of the most prominent viruses in this category are yellow fever, West Nile, Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis.
—Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
The bacteria also doesn’t allow the viruses that cause Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya to replicate inside the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
—Ritu Prasad, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.
—Dr. Adiba Matin, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Oxitec genetically engineered the Aedes aegypti mosquito which causes Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
—Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Climate change can also alter the distribution of mosquitoes—which can carry West Nile virus, dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
—Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024
Treatment and prevention For those who have been exposed and have symptoms, a blood test can confirm the presence of chikungunya or other similar viruses.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
The chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
Some of the most prominent viruses in this category are yellow fever, West Nile, Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis.
—Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
The bacteria also doesn’t allow the viruses that cause Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya to replicate inside the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
—Ritu Prasad, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
These mosquitoes also spread Zika, chikungunya, and other viruses.
—Dr. Adiba Matin, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chikungunya.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Chikungunya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chikungunya. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chikungunya
noun
chik·un·gun·ya
ˌchik-ən-ˈgu̇n-yə, ˌchik-u̇ŋ-
: a febrile disease that resembles dengue, occurs especially in parts of Africa, India, and southeastern Asia, and is caused by a togavirus of the genus Alphavirus (species Chikungunya virus) transmitted by mosquitoes especially of the genus Aedes
called also chikungunya fever
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