A disease that just emerged in the Americas may have made its way to Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Health said today it is investigating the first potential cases of chikungunya fever in the state. It is a mosquito-borne disease that is now circulating in the Caribbean. Tennesseans who recently traveled there are showing symptoms of the disease.

“This is often a terribly painful and uncomfortable illness with no vaccine to prevent it and no specific treatment for those infected,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. John Dreyzehner. “Recovery can be prolonged, so prevention is the only good option.”

Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash, and joint pain. The illness can last from a few days to a few weeks, according to the CDC.

The disease is not usually fatal. Treatment is based on the symptoms.

People most at risk for dying include the elderly, those with compromised immune systems and people with diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.

“Chikungunya is spread by Aedes species mosquitoes, which feed during the day and are found in abundance in Tennessee,” said Abelardo Moncayo, director of the state Health Department’s vector-borne diseases program. “It is imperative that individuals experiencing symptoms of chikungunya virus minimize their exposure to mosquitoes to reduce the risk of local transmission. A mosquito can pick up the virus from an infected human and infect others.”