Chikungunya News

September 5, 2016

Itch from Mosquito Bites Strengthens Viruses

Latest Headlines

updated 6:20am EDT

Size of Zika Epidemic May Be Underestimated, Study Suggests

Aug. 31, 2016 — Official statistics may underestimate the size of the epidemic caused by Zika virus, new research suggests. Some cases of Zika may be misreported as dengue. Uncertainty about the statistics tends to ... read more

Zika, Other Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Pose Threat to Travelers

July 28, 2016 — Mosquitoes in the Aedes family can transmit not only the Zika virus, but also dengue and chikungunya. Travelers visiting regions affected by these diseases should take steps to protect themselves, ... read more

Studies in Mice Provide Insights Into Antibody-Zika Virus Interactions

July 27, 2016 — In research that could inform prophylactic treatment approaches for pregnant women at risk of Zika virus infection, investigators conducted experiments in mice and identified ... read more

An Old New Weapon Against Emerging Chikungunya Virus

May 12, 2016 — Researchers utilize existing drugs to interfere with host factors required for replication of ... read more

Zika Present in Americas Longer Than Previously Thought

Apr. 26, 2016 — The Zika virus was present in Haiti several months before the first Zika cases were identified in Brazil, according to new research by infectious-disease ... read more

Novel Vaccine Strategy Produces Rapid, Long-Term Protection Against Chikungunya Virus

Mar. 31, 2016 — New research has demonstrated how a novel vaccine strategy that boosts the immune system by rapidly producing antibodies against CHIKV, combined with ... read more

Pesticide-Induced Mosquito Death Outweighs Fitness Advantage of Survivors

Feb. 12, 2016 — A common toxin used to kill yellow fever mosquito larvae – the most prevalent transmitter of dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses – is highly effective. While there are ... read more

Zika Virus Found in Colombia: Looking for Ways to Stop It

Jan. 26, 2016 — In October 2015, researchers ran the first tests confirming the presence of Zika virus transmission in the South American country. The team documents a disease trajectory ... read more

Scientists Identify Effective and Novel Mechanisms to Block Chikungunya Virus

Dec. 10, 2015 — Scientists looking at the antiviral mechanisms of two previously identified human monoclonal antibodies have found they ... read more

Mosquito-Borne Virus May Lead to Severe Brain Infection

Nov. 25, 2015 — The mosquito-borne virus chikungunya may lead to severe brain infection and even death in infants and people over 65, according to a new study that reviewed a chikungunya outbreak on Reunion Island ... read more

Caregiver of Zika Patient Contracts Virus

At the Source of the Zika Virus, Scientists Remain Vigilant

Interview With Researcher Who Identified Zika Virus

Concerns Zika Virus Could Spread Through Americas

Research Points to Development of Single Vaccine for Chikungunya, Related Viruses

Nov. 10, 2015 — What if a single vaccine could protect people from infection by many different viruses? That concept is a step closer to reality. Researchers have identified 'broadly neutralizing' ... read more

Researchers Discover Simple, Affordable Diagnostic Kit for Chikungunya

Oct. 30, 2015 — A novel and affordable diagnostic test for chikungunya will soon be available thanks to new research. The formerly unknown virus, now named Eilat virus, is related to chikungunya and other ... read more

New Genome Sequence to Provide Insight Into Tiger Mosquito and How Deadly Diseases Are Transmitted to Humans

Sep. 15, 2015 — The first draft genome sequence of Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the tiger mosquito, has been published by scientists. This tiger mosquito is responsible for transmitting several deadly ... read more

Burden of Dengue, Chikungunya in India Far Worse Than Understood

July 16, 2015 — New evidence shows an extremely high number of people in southern India are exposed to two mosquito-borne viruses -- dengue and chikungunya. These findings, the researchers say, reinforce the need ... read more

Antibodies to Fight Chikungunya Virus Developed

July 8, 2015 — The first large panel of antibody treatments against the chikungunya virus has been reported by investigators. The virus is not spread from person to person but spreads with a domino effect from an ... read more

Virus-Carrying Mosquitoes Are More Widespread Than Ever, and Spreading

June 30, 2015 — Scientists behind the first global distribution maps of two species of dengue and chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes warn they are spreading to new areas where they could cause ... read more

New Device Provides Chikungunya Test Results in an Hour

May 12, 2015 — Health workers now have a quick way to detect the presence of the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus within an hour, rather than waiting for results of laboratory tests that take days, or even weeks, ... read more

Is a Small Artificially Composed Virus Fragment the Key to a Chikungunya Vaccine?

Apr. 23, 2015 — The mosquito transmitted Chikungunya virus, which causes Chikungunya fever, is spreading continuously. No vaccine is so far available. Researchers have experimentally recombined segments of the virus ... read more

Larval Competition Between Invasive Mosquitoes Impacts Their Adult Survival

Apr. 1, 2015 — Larval competition between the Yellow Fever Mosquito and Asian Tiger Mosquito impacts adult survival may influence their ability to transmit dangerous diseases. "Older mosquitoes are potentially ... read more

Experts Warn of Potential Upsurge in Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases as UK Climate Gets Warmer

Mar. 23, 2015 — Vector-borne diseases, which are transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, are on the rise and have spread into new territories across Europe over the past decade (eg, malaria in Greece, ... read more

Measles Vaccine in Modified Form Also Effective Against Chikungunya Virus

Mar. 2, 2015 — A modified, conventional measles vaccine has the potential to act against the Chikungunya virus, concludes a recent study. Up until now, there has been no effective vaccine against the Chikungunya ... read more

Shared Symptoms of Chikungunya Virus, Rheumatoid Arthritis May Cloud Diagnosis

Jan. 30, 2015 — A mosquito-borne virus that has spread to the Caribbean and Central and South America and has caused isolated infections in Florida often causes joint pain and swelling similar to that seen in ... read more

Scientists Explain Spread of Chikungunya Vector

Jan. 8, 2015 — The tropical disease chikungunya began twisting Western tongues in July when the first locally transmitted case was reported in Florida. Spotted in the Caribbean just last year, the disease spread ... read more

Chikungunya Fever: Invasion of Americas by Mosquito-Borne Virus Is Likely, Experts Say

Aug. 18, 2014 — While media attention has been focused recently on coronavirus cases in the Arabian peninsula and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, experts note that another threat lies in the spread of Chikungunya ... read more

Experimental Chikungunya Vaccine Induces Robust Antibody Response

Aug. 14, 2014 — An experimental vaccine to prevent the mosquito-borne viral illness chikungunya elicited neutralizing antibodies in all 25 adult volunteers who participated in a recent early-stage clinical trial. ... read more

Zika Virus: New Threat from Tiger Mosquito

July 24, 2014 — In the group of viruses that includes dengue and chikungunya, a newcomer now has people talking about it. Also originating in Africa, zika was isolated in humans in the 1970s. Several years earlier, ... read more

Number of People Susceptible to Painful Mosquito-Borne Virus Increasing, Says Leading Researcher

July 23, 2014 — A leading researcher in chikungunya virus says many more people are at risk of getting infected now that mosquitoes in the U.S. are carrying the virus. At least 243 travel-related cases of ... read more

Chikungunya Mutation Places Several Countries at Risk of Epidemic

June 16, 2014 — For the first time, researchers were able to predict further adaptations of the chikungunya virus that recently spread from Africa to several continents that will likely result in even more efficient ... read more

Chikungunya Poised to Invade the Americas

Apr. 7, 2014 — Chikungunya virus is poised to invade and become an epidemic in the Americas, according to a team of researchers. The risk of a "catastrophic" epidemic in the Americas is boosted by the ... read more

Mosquitoes Reared in Cooler Temperatures Have Weaker Immune Systems

June 3, 2013 — Scientists have discovered mosquitoes reared in cooler temperatures have weaker immune systems, making them more susceptible to dangerous viruses and thus more likely to transmit diseases to people. ... read more

Tuesday, November 10, 2015