The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the first locally acquired case of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus, in the United States.
While the United States has averaged 28 imported cases of chikungunya per year in travelers returning from countries where the virus is common, this is the first time that mosquitoes in the continental United States are thought to have spread the virus.
People infected with chikungunya virus typically develop fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include muscle aches, headaches, joint swelling or rash. While it is rarely fatal, the joint pain can be debilitating.
The case was reported in Florida in a man who had not recently traveled outside the United States. The CDC is working closely with the Florida Department of Health to investigate how the patient contracted the virus.
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