chikungunya
noun
chik·un·gun·ya
ˌchi-kən-ˈgu̇n-yə 
ˌchi-ku̇ŋ-
: a febrile disease that resembles dengue, occurs especially in parts of Africa, India, and southeastern Asia, and is caused by a togavirus (Alphavirus chikungunya) transmitted especially by aedes mosquitoes
Chikungunya is rarely fatal but can cause severe fevers, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and muscle and joint pains.—
Martin Enserink
Martin EnserinkExamples of chikungunya in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamestown Canyon virus accumulates genetic changes 10 to 100 times more slowly per calendar year than dengue, Rift Valley fever or chikungunya.
—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
The species, which originated in Africa and continues to spread throughout Sacramento and Yolo counties, can carry dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya, diseases that can be life-threatening to humans.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2026
The reproductive effects exerted by the bacterium Wolbachia have been used to control insect pests and disease vectors such as the dengue-, Zika-, and chikungunya-carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 June 2026
Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chikungunya
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John Drake,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
The species, which originated in Africa and continues to spread throughout Sacramento and Yolo counties, can carry dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya, diseases that can be life-threatening to humans.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2026
The reproductive effects exerted by the bacterium Wolbachia have been used to control insect pests and disease vectors such as the dengue-, Zika-, and chikungunya-carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 June 2026
Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chikungunya
Cite this Entry
“Chikungunya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chikungunya. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chikungunya
noun
chik·un·gun·ya
ˌchik-ən-ˈgu̇n-yə
ˌchik-u̇ŋ-
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