Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the Chikungunya virus, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It causes an illness which is characterized by acute fever, headache, joint and muscle pains (especially in the hand and leg), which may persist for a very long time in some cases. Chikungunya does not often result in death, but the joint and muscle pain may last for months, or even years, and may lead to chronic pain and disability. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. After a period of about one to twelve days, which is the incubation period of the virus, most infected people begin to show some symptoms. * The most common symptoms are acute fever and joint pain (especially in the hand and leg). * Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, back pain, joint swelling, fatigue, rash (not in all cases); * Nausea, partial loss of taste, vomiting, and conjunctivitis. * According to WHO, occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications ha...