The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Wednesday) announced the first confirmed case of Chikungunya (pronounced chik-en-gun-ye) virus in Iowa. A Central Iowa adult (18 to 40 years of age) male who recently returned from a trip to the Caribbean became ill with the mosquito-borne virus; he was not hospitalized and is recovering.

Imported cases of Chikungunya are extremely common in the U.S. and until now, Iowa was one of only six states that had not reported such a case. An ‘imported case’ means an individual was bitten by an infected mosquito while traveling outside the state. As of last week, nearly 700 cases of Chikungunya have been reported across the country and almost all have occurred in people returning from areas of the Caribbean or South America where infected mosquitoes are common. Only six locally transmitted cases (all in Florida) have been reported.

It’s important to remember to protect yourself against mosquito bites whether you are on a vacation far away or in your own backyard. In Iowa, September and October are the months when mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are the most active. So far this year, seven cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Iowa and surveillance shows mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are active in nearly all parts of the state. Remember to wear insect repellent when outdoors and remove mosquito breeding areas by emptying outdoor containers that collect water – like bird baths or kiddie pools. For more information on West Nile virus, visit http://bit.ly/Ux5ZgW.

Most people become ill with Chikungunya within a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Common symptoms are fever and joint pain and other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. Most people feel better within a week, but for some, the joint pain may last for months.