A New York resident has tested positive for the chikungunya virus, marking the first known local transmission of the mosquito-borne illness in the United States since 2019. State health officials said the case was identified in Nassau County on Long Island.
The individual developed symptoms in August after traveling outside the region but not abroad. Officials believe the infection likely came from a local mosquito bite, though no infected mosquito pools have been detected and there is no evidence of ongoing spread.
Chikungunya, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, causes fever, joint pain, headache, and rash. The disease is rarely fatal, and most recover within a week, but older adults, newborns, and those with chronic conditions face higher risk. Health Commissioner James McDonald noted that with cooler fall temperatures, mosquito activity—and transmission risk—is “very low.”
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