ISSN: 1080-6059
chikungunya
[chik′′ən-gun′yə]
From the language of the Makonde, northern Mozambique and southeast Tanzania (often misattributed to Swahili), "that which bends up." Chikungunya refers to the stooped posture that develops as a result of arthritic symptoms. A self-limiting disease, chikungunya is caused by an alphavirus spread by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. Though not generally fatal, the disease can be severe. A widespread outbreak in islands of the Indian Ocean, begun in February 2005, has caused >200 deaths.
Sources: Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary. 30th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2003 and http://www.wikipedia.org
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This page posted September 20, 2006
This page last reviewed August 12, 2008
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