Overview

• A 60-year-old Nassau County resident reported no recent travel before a preliminary positive test for chikungunya late August.
• Blood samples were submitted to the New York State public health laboratory in Albany for confirmation, which would mark the first locally acquired case in the state if verified.
• The Department of Health says routine surveillance has not detected the virus in local mosquito pools and notes declining mosquito activity as the season wanes.
• Experts point out that locally acquired U.S. cases have not been reported since 2019, and Aedes mosquitoes that spread chikungunya are daytime biters, making repellents and coverage important.
• The investigation follows large surges abroad, including thousands of cases in China and clusters in France, while vaccines for travelers are available in some countries.