Sindbis virus

Sindbis virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that circulates mainly between birds and mosquitoes. Culex and Culiseta species are considered its main vectors to people. Human infection can cause fever, rash and joint pain, while the supplied evidence reports no person-to-person spread.

The symptomatic illness has several regional names. Finland calls it Pogosta disease; Ockelbo disease and Karelian fever describe the same infection elsewhere in northern Europe. Birds act as amplifying hosts, so infections in mosquitoes and birds can precede a recognised human case. Diagnosis can use rising antibody levels when travel history does not explain the illness. No vaccine protects people against Sindbis virus. These biological and clinical features remain useful beyond any single national case.