Chikungunya Virus
Etiology/Virology
Baltimore Classification
Group IV: (+) ssRNA Virus
ICTV Classification
Family: Togaviridae Genus :Alphavirus Species: Chikungunya Virus
Description
By classification using the Baltimore Classification, Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. CHIKV can also be further classified as an Arbovirus or Arthropod Bourne Virus because of its transmission via mosquitoes. The alphavirus genus is known to be small, spherical viruses with envelopes and are 60-70 nanometers in diameter. The genome of CHIKV encodes for four nonstructural proteins and three structural proteins. {NCBI} Also, alphaviruses viruses further classified into seven complexes varying by different antigenic
Pathogenesis
Transmission
Epidemiology
Clinical Presentation
Diagnosis
Treatment and Prevention
Conventional Treatment
Chikungunya virus is usually not fatal. Currently, there are no antiviral treatments for the disease either; this is probably because the immune system can eliminate the virus on its own. Treatments are usually centered around symptom management and include hydration, management of electrolyte balance, hemodynamic monitoring, rest, and pain management with medication. However, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are not advised because of a possible missed dengue fever diagnosis, which could lead to increased hemorrhaging and death.
Alternative Treatment
There are no vaccines available for CHIKV currently. The only method of prevention is vector control on a personal and community level. People traveling to areas where there have been reported cases and/or traveling to areas that the A. Aegypti or A. albopictus species are located should be cautious. It is recommended that these people wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, apply mosquito repellent, and have screens on windows. In the community, it is beneficial to remove mosquito breeding sites and have large scale spraying of mosquito repellent. The virus can only be spread when a mosquito bites an infected human and then transfers the virus to another human. Because of this, avoiding mosquito bites is the best prevention.
