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
Vectors means the insects spread diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya in humans, or heartworm parasites in dogs.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Typical symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, headache, muscle pain and a rash, according to the CDC.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
Symptoms of chikungunya infections include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash, according to the CDC, and the best way to prevent chikungunya is to avoid mosquito bites.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Originally hailing from Africa, the species can transmit dengue, as well as yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
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Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Typical symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, headache, muscle pain and a rash, according to the CDC.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
Symptoms of chikungunya infections include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash, according to the CDC, and the best way to prevent chikungunya is to avoid mosquito bites.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Originally hailing from Africa, the species can transmit dengue, as well as yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for chikungunya
Cite this Entry
“Chikungunya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chikungunya. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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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