ABSTRACT: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging arbovirus and
is an important human pathogen. Infection of humans by CHIKV can
cause a syndrome characterized by fever, headache, rash, nausea,
vomiting, myalgia, arthralgia and occasionally neurological
manifestations such as acute limb weakness. It is also
associated with a fatal haemorrhagic condition. CHIKV is
geographically distributed from Africa through Southeast Asia
and South America, and its transmission to humans is mainly
through the Aedes aegypti species mosquitoes. The frequency of
recent epidemics in the Indian Ocean and La Reunion islands
suggests that a new vector perhaps is carrying the virus, as A.
aegypti are not found there. In fact, a relative the Asian tiger
mosquito, Aedes albopictus, may be the culprit which has raised
concerns in the world health community regarding the potential
for a CHIK virus pandemic. Accordingly steps should be taken to
develop methods for the control of CHIKV. Unfortunately,
currently there is no specific trea