Criteria

World Health Organization: chikungunya case definition[63]

  • Clinical criteria: acute onset of fever >38.5°C (>101.3°F) and severe arthralgia/arthritis not explained by other medical conditions.

  • Epidemiological criteria: residing in or having visited epidemic areas, having reported transmission within 15 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

  • Laboratory criteria: at least one of the following tests in the acute phase:

    • Virus isolation

    • Presence of viral RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

    • Presence of virus-specific IgM antibodies in single serum sample collected in acute or convalescent stage

    • Fourfold increase in IgG values in samples collected at least 3 weeks apart.

Possible case: a patient meeting clinical criteria.

Probable case: a patient meeting both the clinical and epidemiological criteria.

Confirmed case: a patient meeting the laboratory criteria, irrespective of the clinical presentation.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: chikungunya case definition for surveillance[73]

  • Clinical criteria: acute onset of fever >38.5°C (>101.3°F) and severe/incapacitating arthralgia not explained by other medical conditions.

  • Epidemiological criteria: residing in or having visited epidemic areas, having reported transmission within 15 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

  • Laboratory criteria: at least one of the following tests in the acute phase:

    • Virus isolation

    • Presence of viral RNA by RT-PCR

    • Presence of virus-specific IgM/IgG antibodies in single serum sample collected

    • Seroconversion to virus-specific antibodies in samples, collected at least 1 to 3 weeks apart.

Possible case: a patient meeting clinical criteria.

Probable case: a patient meeting both the clinical and epidemiological criteria.

Confirmed case: a patient meeting the laboratory criteria, irrespective of the clinical presentation.

Note: this case definition is currently being revised.

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