The Chikungunya Virus is a single-stranded, enveloped RNA-Virus that belongs to the genera Alphavirus of the togavirus family (Togaviridae). The entire virion measures 60-65 nm.Relating to the geographic occurrence the virus is divided into five variations: the West-African, the East- and South-African, the one of the Indian Ocean and the Asiatic.Chikungunya-Viruses are transmitted to humans by bloodsucking mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus). In general the viruses are not transmitted from human to human but transmissions from infected pregnant women to unborn children have been proved.The symptoms of Chikungunya include fever which can reach 39°C (102,2°F) a petechial or maculopapular rash usually involving the limbs and trunk, and arthralgia or arthritis affecting multiple joints which can be debilitating.The symptoms can also include headache, conjunctival injection and slight photophobia. The fever typically lasts for two days and abruptly comes down. However other symptoms, namely joint pain, intense headache, insomnia and an extreme degree of prostration last for a variable period, usually for about five to seven days. But patients have complained joint pain for much longer time period depending on age of the patient. It has been observed that the severity of the disease as well as its duration is less in younger patients and pregnant women. Heavy damages to somebody's health or death are rare.
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