Chikungunya

Overview

How can I get sick? 

• Humans become sick by being bitten by a mosquito with the virus.  

Symptoms: 

• Joint pain and fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal)  
  • (Most common)
• Headache 
• Muscle pain 
• Joint swelling 
• Rash 
• Death (rare) 

What can I do to stay healthy? 

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites 

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.  

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.   
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.  
• Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.  
• Remove anything that will bring mosquitoes into your home. For example, emptying standing water from pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers.  

What to do when traveling overseas 

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.  
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.   
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with repellent.  
• Choose a hotel or place to stay that has air conditioning or windows and doors with screens to keep mosquitos outside.  
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outside or if you are staying in a room with no screens on windows or doors.  

*Definitions: 

• Infected: When germs get inside of a body, animal, or an organism.
• Insect Repellent: Product applied to skin, clothing or surfaces to keep insects away.