[Physiopathology of chronic arthritis following chikungunya infection in man].

This article relates the problems initially encountered by an elected official of the French Republic in drawing the attention of authorities to the ravages of the chikungunya epidemic that occurred on Reunion Island in 2005-2006. Due to inadequate medical knowledge, the benign reputation of the disease, and slow reaction of authorities, the virus affected more than one third of the population. A great deal of further study will be needed to understand this public health crisis and to transform the lessons learned into a decisive breakthrough that will doubtless be of equal benefit for mainland France.