Chikungunya virus that forced China into 'pandemic measures' discovered in the US

A woman in the US has been diagnosed with chikungunya virus, in what health officials believe is the first-ever local transmission in the area.

An infection spread through mosquito bites, chikungunya virus made headlines earlier this year after a cluster of cases were detected across the province of Guangdong in southern China, prompting the country to enact 'forceful and decisive measures' to curb infections.

According to data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there has been 317,000 cases and 135 chikungunya-related deaths across 16 different countries.

The uptick in cases also reached the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which confirmed it was 'monitoring' the situation, while the UK confirmed there had been a rise in cases reported across the first half of the country.

An outbreak in China led to pandemic like measures (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

In the latest update on the virus, officials in the US state of New York have revealed that a woman residing on Long Island contracted the virus back in August.

Unlike the majority of cases, which involved tourists travelling back from high-risk areas, the unnamed woman is believed to have not left the island, suggesting her case could be the first locally-transmitted case in the state's history.

"The New York State Department of Health is investigating a possible locally acquired case of chikungunya virus," a spokesperson told NTD News.

However, they were keen to stress this was yet to be confirmed, saying 'the risk to the public remains very low'.

The department added that routine surveillance of mosquitoes in the area have not shown presence of chikungunya.

What are the symptoms of chikungunya virus?

Asymptomatic cases of chikungunya virus are believed to number between 15 percent to 35 percent of patients infected. For those who develop symptoms, these include:

• Joint swelling
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Rash

The virus is spread through infected mosquitoes (Getty Stock Images)

How deadly is chikungunya virus?

According to the WHO, severe infections and deaths from chikungunya virus are rare, with the majority of fatalities being in elderly people, young children and those with pre-existing health problems.

Complications related to chikungunya virus typically include inflammation of the heart and brain.

How does chikungunya virus spread?

Unlike respiratory illnesses, such as flu or Covid-19, chikungunya virus is not an airborne infection. Meaning that it cannot be transmitted from person-to-person via exhaled respiratory droplets or bodily fluids.

The disease is instead through the bite of an infected mosquito, more specifically, Aedes mosquitoes.

However there have been cases of the disease being passed from mother to baby through pregnancy.