Epidemiology of chikungunya Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa in1952 An outbreak of chikungunya was discovered in 1999 in Port Klang in Malaysia, affecting 27 people a big outbreak was recorded in 2005 on the french island of reunion in the Indian ocean More than 250,000(1/3 residents were infected by the virus, resulting in about 220 deaths(0.1%Epidemiology of Chikungunya Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa in 1952. An outbreak of chikungunya was discovered in 1999 in Port Klang in Malaysia, affecting 27 people. A big outbreak was recorded in 2005 on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. More than 250,000 (1/3) residents were infected by the virus, resulting in about 220 deaths (~0.1%)