A possible case of chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness, was recently reported in New York. Chikungunya can cause fever and joint pain, among other symptoms, and can be life-threatening in extreme cases.
Officials from the New York State Health Department were investigating the possible infection of a 60-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus, ABC 7 reported on Sept. 26. While chikungunya is often linked to travel, the woman claims she had not recently traveled, which could suggest that the illness was transmitted locally.
The case comes months after the CDC issued a travel warning for Americans heading to China as the country battled an outbreak of chikungunya virus, which infected thousands.
What is chikungunya? Here’s what to know about the virus, its symptoms, and how many cases have been reported in Ohio so far in 2025.
What is chikungunya? Is it deadly?
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus. It causes fever and joint pain, and while rare, it can be deadly.
Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash when bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the CDC. The agency at one point released a Level 2 travel warning due to an outbreak in China. A Level 2 warning advises travelers to practice enhanced precautions while visiting destinations with outbreaks.
Is chikungunya common in Ohio and the U.S.?
While not considered especially common in the United States, there have been more documented cases of chikungunya in the U.S. over the past several years.
Ohio has now seen two reported case of chikungunya in 2025 as of Sept. 29, 2025, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The first case was reported in Franklin County, and the second in Fulton County. ODH reports three chikungunya cases in the Buckeye State since last September.
In 2024, there were nearly 200 travel-related reports of chikungunya nationally, per CDC data. So far this year, the CDC has confirmed at least 40 cases where travelers tested positive for chikungunya.
Locally acquired chikungunya cases have not been reported from U.S. states or territories since 2019, but the most recent suspicion of chikungunya may point to local transmission, since the New York woman claims she did not recently travel outside of the country.
Other travel-associated mosquito-borne diseases like malaria have seen far more reports this year (53 cases) among Ohioans.
Is chikungunya different from the Zika virus?
Yes. While both diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes, they come from two different types of viruses (chikungunya is an Alphavirus, while Zika is a Flavivirus), according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Clinical symptoms of chikungunya fever and Zika fever are also similar, but chikungunya symptoms are generally more severe than Zika symptoms.
Symptoms of the chikungunya virus
Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The CDC says that symptoms can include:
How to prevent chikungunya
In addition to CDC travel warnings, vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak, and travelers should also try to avoid mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts, staying indoors, or using repellent.
However, federal officials recommended pausing chikungunya vaccines in those over 60 in May 2025 due to adverse reactions.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is chikungunya spreading? What to know about the mosquito-borne illness, cases in Ohio
Reporting by Alex Perry, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
