“Chikungunya virus (CHIK, CHIKV), is a member of the Alphavirus genus, (Group A Arbovirus), which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and produces an illness that mimics dengue in many respects. The disease was first described in 1952-53 following an outbreak on the Makonde plateau (a Swahili village) along the border between Tangyanika (Tanzania) and Mozambique. The name of the disease itself comes from a Makonde word from the region; which means “that which bends up” or “stooped over” or “walking bent over” or “bended walker” referring to the stooped posture of patients who have multiple small joint involvement. In India, the disease is also called “Aakdya” (stiff man) and Maakdya (monkey like) referring again to the stooped gait (in Marathi Language), the hallmark of the disease. It has no relationship whatsoever with chicken or poultry, the recent confusion being caused to the earlier bird flu scare.”
Taken from Kondekar S, Gogtay NJ (2006) Why Chikungunya is called Chikungunya. JOURNAL OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE, Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Pages: 307-307