In June 2012, health authorities in Papua New Guinea detected an increase in febrile illnesses in Vanimo. Chikungunya virus of the Eastern/Central/Southern African genotype harboring the E1:A226V mutation was identified. This ongoing outbreak has spread to ≥8 other provinces and has had a harmful effect on public health.
Keywords: Aedes albopictus; CHIKV; Papua New Guinea; chikungunya; chikungunya virus; mutant strain; outbreak; viruses.