Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease stemming from a virus called Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) that is of the Alphavirus genus of the Togaviridae family. The word ‘Chikungunya’ comes from a Makonde word. The Makonde are the inhabitants of Tanzania and Mozambique who speak that language, and it translates too; “that which bends up.” This is a term used to describe the position that people with extreme pain in their joints take up.