Transmission

Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus. They bite mostly during the daytime.

The virus is rarely transmitted from a mother to her newborn around the time of birth. In theory, the virus could be spread through a blood transfusion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to date there are no known reports of this happening.

The Southern Nevada Health District’s vector control program has updated its methods to include surveillance for the mosquito species that carries chikungunya virus. To date, the Aedes mosquito’s range has not extended beyond the Southeast US.