The five main arbovirus families that cause diseases in humans and other animals are Bunya viridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Reoviridae, and Rhab doviridae. Chikungunya arbovirus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus), an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes spp., is a well-known global health threat. It has been recognized in more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Pakistan, the eastern neighborhood of Iran, is one of the endemic foci of this disease. As the largest province of Iran, Sistan- Baluchestan has always been threatened by infectious diseases from abroad due to its geographical location and neighborhood with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Contagious diseases are more likely to occur in the eastern borders of Iran arising from (1) lack or limited jobs due to deprivation of the area, the harsh weather conditions, unbearable conditions, traditional society, and lack of industry development; (2) Lack or limited facilities due to the distance from the center of the country and high percentage of illiteracy or low literacy, and traffic to neighboring countries to trade goods and get a job. Therefore, health authorities should pay more attention to trafficking of illegal aliens, traveling of people to high-risk countries, smuggling of livestock, and strengthening of quarantine posts across borders, especially in the eastern borders of Iran. The first case of chikungunya disease was confirmed in Sistan-Baluchestan province in 2019, where most of the cases have been reported. The findings of the present study provide evidence of chikungunya virus in Iran and emphasize the urgency to increase the preventive standards and surveillance system.
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