Imported Chikungunya Virus Strains, Taiwan, 2006–2014

We identified 78 imported chikungunya cases in Taiwan during 2006-2014.Sixty-six (84.6%) cases were initially suspected to be dengue, which indicates the necessity for laboratory diagnostics in differentiation between dengue and chikungunya.Results also emphasize the need for active surveillance of febrile illness at points of entry.C hikungunya is a mosquitoborne viral disease charac- terized by symptoms, including fever, rash, myalgia, and polyarthralgia that are usually self-limiting and rarely fatal; however, arthralgia might persist (1).The causative agent of this disease is chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which belongs to the family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus (2).Genotypes of CHIKV include West African, East/Central/ South African (ECSA), and Asian.Since 2000, CHIKV has caused unanticipated, large outbreaks in Africa and Asia and become a major public health concern (3).In late 2013, CHIKV reached the Americas and caused several explosive outbreaks (4).CHIKV is predominantly transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae.albopictus mosquitoes (1).Although chikungunya is not endemic to Taiwan, Aedes mosquitoes are found throughout Taiwan (5).Infected travelers with high viremia who arrive or return from disease-endemic areas could lead to local transmission and outbreaks in Taiwan.