Excess Mortality and Causes Associated with Chikungunya, Puerto Rico, 2014–2015

Abstract

During 2014–2015, a total of 31 deaths were associated with the first chikungunya epidemic in Puerto Rico. We analyzed excess mortality from various causes for the same months during the previous 4 years and detected 1,310 deaths possibly attributable to chikungunya. Our findings raise important questions about increased mortality rates associated with chikungunya.

Keywords

• mortality
• arboviruses
• chikungunya virus
• epidemiology
• viruses
• vector-borne infections