Chikungunya fever is an acute febrile illness caused by an arthropod-borne alphavirus, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The virus is primarily transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. CHIKV was first recognized as a human pathogen during the 1950s in Africa, and since then, cases have been identified in many countries in Africa and Asia [1, 2].
In 2004, CHIKV re-emerged in Kenya and subsequently spread eastward, causing millions of disease cases throughout countries in and around the Indian Ocean [3–5]. The epidemics resulted in significant morbidity and taxed the health care and public health infrastructure in these regions. By 2007, CHIKV was imported into Europe, causing an outbreak of chikungunya fever in Italy [6]. This outbreak suggested for the first time the significant potential of the virus to move to novel ecological niches, including Europe, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere.
In this review, we will briefly describe the epidemiology and global expansion of CHIKV then focus on the clinical features of chikungunya fever and the laboratory testing for the disease. In particular, we will reflect on what was learned during recent outbreak investigations and discuss priorities for further studies needed for effective disease control and prevention.