New York Finds First Local Chikungunya Case in Six Years

New York has seen its first case of the chikungunya virus in six years. The person who got sick lives in Nassau County on Long Island. They started feeling bad in August after traveling somewhere nearby but not out of the country. Officials think the person got the virus from a mosquito bite. But they are not sure because they haven't found any infected mosquitoes in the area. The type of mosquito that spreads chikungunya does live in parts of New York, though. The good news is that mosquitoes are less active in the fall. So, the chance of more people getting sick is very low. Chikungunya usually causes fever, joint pain, and rashes. Most people get better in a week. But it can be serious for babies, older adults, and people with health problems. This is the first time in six years that someone in the U. S. got chikungunya from a local mosquito. New York has had other cases this year, but those people got sick while traveling abroad. Mosquitoes in the area can also spread other viruses, like West Nile.