Chikungunya virus
Chikungunya virus disease causes fever-like symptoms, but mainly severe and sometimes long-lasting joint pain (Schwartz 2010). It is caused by the Chikungunya virus (Togaviridae), which has spread worldwide within the last two decades. In addition to spatially limited local outbreaks, large and long-lasting epidemics are now occurring (CDC 2019). In Europe, the first local outbreak of chikungunya was reported in Italy in 2007, with about 330 cases (Rezza 2007). Since then, local outbreaks have occurred repeatedly in France and Italy (ECDC 2017).
Figure: Reconstruktion of Chikungunya-Virus, EMDB-Eintrag 5577, PDBj