Long Island Resident Tests Positive For Chikungunya Virus

LONG ISLAND, NY — A Nassau County resident has tested positive for the chikungunya virus; the first locally acquired case of the virus reported in New York State, according to the New York State Department of Health.

No locally acquired cases have been reported in the U.S. states and territories since 2019, the DOH said.

"An investigation suggests that the individual likely contracted the virus following a bite from an infected mosquito," the DOH said. "While the case is classified as locally acquired based on current information, the precise source of exposure is not known."

The Aedes albopictus mosquito, known to transmit chikungunya, is present in parts of downstate New York, the DOH said.

Local transmission can occur when an A. albopictus mosquito bites an infected traveler, becomes infected and bites another person; the disease cannot be spread directly from one person to another.

"Our Wadsworth Center has confirmed this test result, which is the first known case of locally acquired Chikungunya in New York State. Given the much colder nighttime temperatures, the current risk in New York is very low," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "We urge everyone to take simple precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites."

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease most common in tropical and subtropical regions, the DOH said.

Symptoms include fever and joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. The illness is rarely fatal and most patients recover within a week, though some may experience persistent joint pain. People at higher risk for severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, adults aged 65 and older, and individuals with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, the DOH said.

In 2025, there have been three additional chikungunya cases outside New York City that were all linked to international travel to regions with active chikungunya infections, the DOH said. Routine mosquito testing conducted by the DOH's Wadsworth Center and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has not detected chikungunya virus in any New York mosquito samples to date, the DOH said.

Mosquito activity in New York is declining as cooler fall temperatures begin. The DOH reminded all New Yorkers to take precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito bites:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents
• Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors when possible
• Remove standing water around homes, such as in flowerpots, buckets and gutters
• Repair or patch holes in window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out

More information about chikungunya virus can be found here.

The virus has been spreading in China and other areas in Europe, according to the New York State Department of Health.

NBC News reported that the Nassau County Department of Health said the person began having symptoms in August after having traveled off Long Island but not out of the United States.

According to the World Health Organization, Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, with large outbreaks and sporadic cases reported mostly in the Americas, Asia and Africa, and occasional smaller outbreaks in Europe.

The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of dengue and Zika, making chikungunya easy to misdiagnose and making it more difficult for countries to accurately determine the number of people infected, the WHO said.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya virus infections but antipyretic and analgesic medications (such as paracetamol) for fever and pain can be used to alleviate these symptoms, the WHO said.

Severe symptoms and deaths from chikungunya are rare and usually occur in young babies or elderly people with other coexisting health problems.

Clinical management includes addressing fever and joint pain with anti-pyretics and optimal analgesics, drinking plenty of fluids and general rest. There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for CHIKV infections, the WHO said..

There are currently two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk in several countries, but the vaccines are not yet widely available nor in widespread use, the WHO said.