CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS VERSUS AEDES-BORNE OTHER VIRUSES: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt

2 Consultant Tropical Medicine and Fever

3 Consultant of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt

4 4Consultant of Endemic Diseases, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Chikungunya virus is an alphavirus transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus causes
acute febrile polyarthralgia and arthritis. Also, transmission of chikungunya virus can occur via
maternal-fetal transmission, blood products and organ transplantation. Chikungunya virus is
endemic in West Africa; outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe, islands in the Indian
and Pacific Oceans, and recently in the Americas. But, with the climatic changes Chikungunya
invaded into new areas, where local transmission occurs if competent mosquitoes are present.
Aedes vectors are also capable of transmitting Zika virus, Dengue virus and Yellow fever virus.
Currently there is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection, and
people can protect themselves by avoiding mosquito bites. Eradicating Aedes species is a must.

Keywords