Context: Recently, the study conducted by the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune on the geographic distribution and evolution of the chikungunya virus over the period from 2005-2018
Background

• Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The virus is transmitted from by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegyptiand Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.
• It causes fever and severe joint pain. There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
• The disease mostly occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Key Points

• The study notes India as an endemic reservoir for the chikungunya virus with persistent global transmissions from the country.
• Observations from the phylogeography study based on the genome sequences of the strains found in different countries over the period from 2005 to 2018, showed persistent global transmissions from India.
• The study claims the dispersal of the strains from India to neighbouring as well as distant countries.

Concerns: There is a possibility of further diversification of the chikungunya virus as this is an RNA virus and continues to acquire mutations.
Road Ahead

• Continuous surveillance is necessary to monitor the changes in the viral strains.
• Sustainable efforts towards vector control might help in reducing the transmission of the chikungunya virus.