Preventing chikungunya
THIS INFORMATION IN THIS MODULE IS FUNDED AND CREATED BY BAVARIAN NORDIC AND IT CONTAINS PROMOTIONAL CONTENT ABOUT BAVARIAN NORDIC PRODUCTS.
PREVENTING CHIKUNGUNYA
Avoiding mosquito bites is the main method to prevent chikungunya.1,6 Aedes mosquitoes transmit CHIKV to humans, but high viraemia also allows CHIKV to be transmitted from humans to mosquitoes.8 When an uninfected mosquito feeds on the blood of a person with CHIKV, the virus enters and multiplies within the mosquito. After 8-10 days, and for the remainder of its life, the mosquito can transmit the virus to another human.6 Therefore, people with chikungunya should avoid getting bitten in order to prevent further transmission of the disease.1
ADVICE TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES21
Cover up with long sleeves and long trousers
Consider clothing sprayed, impregnated or pre-treated with insecticide (e.g. permethrin)
Use a good repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and reapply after swimming or perspiration
Apply DEET after sunscreen, if sunscreen is also being used. Use SPF 30 to 50 sunscreen to compensate for the reduction in SPF induced by DEET
If DEET is not tolerated, consider picaridin, IR3535 or eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (previously known as PMD)
Advise travellers to carry repellent in their hand luggage to use at transit stops, when waiting for baggage and during onward travel
Consider using:
Insecticide vaporisers
Mosquito coils impregnated with insecticide (outdoors)
Mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide (when sleeping)
Use window and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering accommodation
Use air-conditioning, if available
Avoid areas of stagnant or standing water, where mosquitoes are likely to breed
UNDERSTANDING MOSQUITO BEHAVIOUR
Consider whether the statements below about Aedes mosquitoes are TRUE or FALSE.
AEDES MOSQUITOES BITE AT NIGHT TIME ONLY
No, this statement is false.
Correct! This statement is false.
Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, especially mid-morning and late afternoon to twilight.3 This is the opposite to Anopheles mosquitoes that carry malaria, which bite at night between dusk and dawn.6
AEDES MOSQUITOES LIVE IN RURAL
AREAS AND ONLY BITE OUTDOORS
No, as a blanket statement, this is false.
Correct! This statement is false.
Aedes aegypti tend to reside close to human dwellings in urban areas and often bite indoors.3
Aedes albopictus are active in urban, peri-urban, rural and near forested areas and they prefer the outdoors, although they bite both indoors and outdoors.3
Content developed by Bavarian Nordic UK working with CIG Healthcare Partnership.
© 2026 CIG Healthcare Partnership
UK-VIM-2600013 | September 2026