chikungunya

noun

chik·​un·​gun·​ya ˌchi-kən-ˈgu̇n-yə How to pronounce chikungunya (audio)
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

Examples of chikungunya in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2025, there have been three additional chikungunya cases outside New York City that were all linked to international travel to regions with active chikungunya infections, according to health officials. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025 There is a current travel health notice for chikungunya in Bangladesh; Cuba; Guangdong Province, China; Kenya; Madagascar; Somalia; and Sri Lanka, according to the CDC. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 Recently, the Cuban government confirmed the presence of chikungunya in Matanzas province, where the first cases had been diagnosed since July. Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 There is no specific treatment or widely available vaccine for chikungunya. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chikungunya

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Kimakonde (Bantu language of the Makonde), alleged to mean "that which bends up"

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chikungunya was in 1954

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chikungunya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chikungunya. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

chikungunya

noun
chik·​un·​gun·​ya ˌchik-ən-ˈgu̇n-yə, ˌchik-u̇ŋ- How to pronounce chikungunya (audio)
: 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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