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
Older adults are being warned against receiving the chikungunya vaccine before traveling.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
In light of the concerns, the advisory group also recommended authorizing a second chikungunya vaccine—Vimkunya, produced by Bavarian Nordic—for travelers aged 12 and older visiting areas experiencing outbreaks.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Brazil recently inaugurated a factory that breeds mosquitoes to carry a bacterium known as Wolbachia that prevents the mosquitoes from reproducing easily, slowing the viruses that cause dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, a disease that can cause fever and joint pain, now established in the Americas.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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
See All Example Sentences for chikungunya
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Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
In light of the concerns, the advisory group also recommended authorizing a second chikungunya vaccine—Vimkunya, produced by Bavarian Nordic—for travelers aged 12 and older visiting areas experiencing outbreaks.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Brazil recently inaugurated a factory that breeds mosquitoes to carry a bacterium known as Wolbachia that prevents the mosquitoes from reproducing easily, slowing the viruses that cause dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, a disease that can cause fever and joint pain, now established in the Americas.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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
See All Example Sentences for chikungunya
Cite this Entry
“Chikungunya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chikungunya. Accessed 19 Jul. 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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