Vertical transmission of chikungunya virus: a worldwide concern

Abstract

The Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) already has endemic circulation in about 100 countries and the number of infected patients increases every year, due to the effectiveness of the vector and human universal susceptibility to infection. The virus can also be transmitted from mother to child, more frequently intrapartum. About 50% of neonates with CHIKV symptoms will have neurodevelopmental delay. It is therefore an infection of worldwide concern with a great impact on people's quality of life. The objective of this work is to describe two cases of confirmed vertical transmission by chikungunya virus, one of them with intrauterine infection and death of the neonate. Neonates with vertical chikungunya infection may present with clinical sepsis in the first few days of life, which is why this is a very important diagnosis, especially during outbreaks of the infection.