Definition of Mayaro virus (MAYV)

Mayaro virus (MAYV): a mosquito-borne virus of the family Togaviridae and the genus Alphavirus that causes an illness known as Mayaro fever. Mayaro fever produces symptoms and signs similar to those of dengue fever, including an acute febrile illness lasting 3 to 5 days, typically accompanied by headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Some patients develop persistent, severe joint pains that last for up to 1 year after infection. Mayaro virus is typically found in South America, but has recently been reported in the Caribbean, in Haiti. There has been little research to date to understand the Mayaro virus and how it causes disease, how the disease can be cured, or whether the virus can be spread from person to person.