Chikungunya fever in the United States: A fifteen year review of cases

Abstract

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) represents a threat to the United States, because humans amplify CHIKV and vectors that transmit CHIKV are present. Methods: We described the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed chikungunya fever (CHIK) cases in the United States in 1995-2009 and compared states with CHIKV vectors with states with returning viremic CHIK cases. For 2006-2009, we evaluated reporting of CHIK cases to ArboNET, the arboviral surveillance system. Results: In 1995-2009, 109 CHIK cases were identified in the United States; all adult travelers. Sixty-two subjects (57%) had recently visited India, and 13 (12%) had CHIKV viremia. Of the 26 jurisdictions with CHIK cases, 22 (85%) r..