The first occurrence of the mosquito-borne tropical disease chikungunya has occurred in north Florida. Two cases have been reported, in Leon County, from residents who recently visited Haiti.

This virus originated in sub-Saharan Africa and the southeastern quarter of Asia including India, Pakistan, Indo-China and most of China. The first reported case in the Caribbean occurred in 2013.

The Chikungunya virus is spread by two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (also known as the yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (also known as the tiger mosquito). Both are non-natives which are currently found in Florida, but the tiger mosquito is more common in north Florida. More….

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