Podcast: “Chikungunya Virus – a tropical disease in Europe?”

Chikungunya fever — long considered a tropical disease — is spreading increasingly into Europe, carried by mosquitoes that have expanded their range as temperatures rise. The name chikungunya comes from Swahili and describes the stooped posture that severely affected patients adopt due to intense muscle and joint pain.

In this episode of Frag die Medizin, Prof. Gisa Gerold explains how the chikungunya virus is transmitted, what symptoms an infection causes, and how it is treated. The episode also addresses whether a vaccine exists — and why something as simple as regularly emptying watering cans and plant pot saucers can help slow the spread of the disease.

Frag die Medizin is available on all major podcast platforms.