New York reports first locally acquired chikungunya case since 2019

New York health officials confirmed on Tuesday that a Nassau County resident has tested positive for the chikungunya virus, marking the state's first locally acquired case and the first reported local transmission in the United States since 2019. The person began experiencing symptoms in August after travel within the region but not outside the country, and state and county health departments said an infected mosquito is the most likely source of exposure.

Laboratory testing by state health authorities confirmed the infection, officials said, but surveillance of local mosquito pools has not detected the virus and there is no evidence of ongoing transmission. State Health Commissioner James McDonald said seasonal cooling, which reduces mosquito activity, is making the immediate risk low. He added, "We urge everyone to take simple precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites." The health departments did not release the patient’s name or other identifying details.

Chikungunya is spread primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, both of which are present in parts of the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island. The illness cannot...