Casi di febbre Chikungunya in Italia in viaggiatori di ritorno dall’Oceano Indiano e rischio di introduzione nel territorio italiano (casi clinici).

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease characterized by fever, arthralgia and rash. A large outbreak of Chikungunya fever began in 2005 in La Reunion, and it is still ongoing on many islands and countries of the Indian Ocean. Several cases have been detected in Europe in travellers returning from the affected areas. The disease is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, which are also widespread in Italy. We describe 7 cases of Chikungunya fever imported into Italy by travellers returning from affected countries. The current outbreak is described, and the risk of establishment of a chain of transmission in Italy is discussed.