Chikungunya: What can you do?

This year, I have encountered a surprising number of people who have got Chikungunya. Chikungunya is a viral disease resembling dengue, transmitted by mosquitoes and endemic in East Africa and parts of Asia.

If you don’t know anyone who has been inflicted, thank your stars. The pain, fatigue and loss of energy is staggering. It persists for months. Some people cannot lift a cup of coffee.

So what can you do if you have had it?

We experience Chikungunya as high fever and joint pain. But beneath those symptoms lies a deeper problem. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and a sudden depletion of vital nutrients.

When your body is under viral attack, it diverts vitamins, minerals, and amino acids toward immune defense.

Understanding the deficiencies is the roadmap to recovery.

One of the most common gaps is vitamin C. Your body uses it rapidly to counter oxidative stress triggered by the virus. Low vitamin C slows tissue repair and worsens fatigue.

You are likely to see a drop in Vitamin D, a key regulator of immune balance and inflammation.

Magnesium, a master mineral involved in muscle function, drops, adding to stiffness and exhaustion.

Zinc, crucial for immune resilience and wound healing, is similarly depleted, prolonging recovery and leaving you vulnerable to secondary infections.

The virus also increases demand for B-complex vitamins, especially B12 and B6, which support nerve health and energy metabolism.

So what can you do?

Build meals around whole, anti-inflammatory foods. Whole foods cooked at home. Vegetables, fruits, lentils, nuts and seeds. Drink sufficient water which supports lymphatic drainage, a key mechanism for reducing swelling.

Supplement if you need to. Vitamin D, magnesium glycinate, and zinc, taken under medical guidance, replenish what the body has lost.

Omega-3 fatty acids, from fish or algae oil, calm the inflammation. Walking may be painful, but it helps improve blood flow.

The recovery from Chikungunya recovery is not simple or quick. But your best chance is to get your nutrition right.

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