Aedes albopictus Mosquito: The Main Vector of the 2007 Chikungunya Outbreak in Gabon

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004691
• Publication Date: 2009-03-03T23:59:22Z
• Authors: Frédéric Pagès; Christophe N. Pey...; Médard Toung Mve; Fanny Jarjaval; Sylvain Brisse; Isabelle Iteman; Patrick Gravier; Dieudonné Nkoghe; Marc Grandadam
• Keywords: Aedes albopictus; Alphavirus infection

The primary vector at the origin of 2007 outbreak in Libreville, Gabon is identified as Aedes albopictus, trapped around nearby French military camp. Chikungunya virus was isolated from mosquitoes and found to be identical A226V circulating human strain. This first field study showing role recently arrived species albopictus transmission Central Africa, it demonstrates this species' modifying epidemiological presentation Gabon.