Persistent Arthralgia Associated with Chikungunya Virus Outbreak, US Virgin Islands, December 2014-February 2016

Abstract

After the 2014-2015 outbreak of chikungunya virus in the US Virgin Islands, we compared the prevalence of persistent arthralgia among case-patients and controls. Prevalence was higher in case-patients than controls 6 and 12 months after disease onset. Continued vaccine research to prevent acute illness and long-term sequelae is essential.

Keywords: US Virgin Islands; alphavirus; chikungunya fever; chikungunya virus; comparative study; long-term sequelae; outbreak; persistent arthralgia; vector-borne infections; viruses.

Figure 1

Arthralgia reported by joint site among confirmed chikungunya virus case-patients 6 months after illness onset and by nonsymptomatic controls enrolled at the time of the 12-month follow-up for case-patients, US Virgin Islands, December 2014–February 2016. *Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) between case-patients and controls.

Figure 2

Arthralgia reported by joint site among confirmed chikungunya virus case-patients 12 months after illness onset and by nonsymptomatic controls enrolled at the time of the 12-month follow-up for case-patients, US Virgin Islands, December 2014–February 2016. No statistically significant differences were found between case-patients and controls.