Is Chikungunya a Threat in Greater St. Louis?
Posted by Mosquito Squad
August 15, 2025
At the time of this writing, there is a CDC travel advisory for Americans traveling abroad to China, due to a chikungunya outbreak.
The fortunate news is that we are not at risk for chikungunya in the Greater St. Louis area. However, if you are traveling to a potentially dangerous region, like Guangdong, China, a level two travel advisory from the Centers for Disease Control urges enhanced precautions. Currently the travel advisory pertains to not only China, but also Brazil, Colombia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan, among others. There are two approved chikungunya vaccines available in the United States.
There have been no locally-transmitted cases of chikungunya in the United States since 2019. However, nearly 200 travel-related cases were confirmed in the U.S. in 2024.
The reason for the chikungunya outbreak in China is believed to be monsoon flood waters. Rainy season is mosquito season!
Which Mosquito Transmits Chikungunya?
Aedes mosquitoes are the culprits – both the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are responsible for the transmission of chikungunya. And while these mosquitoes can be found here in Missouri and the broader United States, chikungunya is not reported in mosquito samples at this time.
What Other Diseases Do Aedes Mosquitoes Transmit?
The Aedes aegypti is also known for transmitting dengue and yellow. Actually, its nickname is the yellow fever mosquito. The Aedes albopictus mosquito is also known as the Asian tiger mosquito and is a voracious daytime biter. This nasty little guy is responsible for diseases, like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and more.
What is Missouri’s Most Common Mosquito Disease?
West Nile virus is the predominant mosquito-borne illness in Missouri. In fact, the Greater St. Louis region accounted for nearly half of the cases in the United States in 2023, which resulted in one fatality.
Other notable potential mosquito-borne illnesses in Greater St. Louis include:
- Louis encephalitis
- La Crosse encephalitis
- Eastern equine encephalitis
If you are feeling ill after a known mosquito bite, you will want to monitor your symptoms and seek medical advice if they persist. Many mosquito-borne illnesses start with common flu or cold symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, and joint pain
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