New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- New York health officials have confirmed the state's first local case of the chikungunya virus in six years. The patient, a resident of Nassau County on Long Island, tested positive earlier this week, marking a rare instance of local transmission in the United States.

According to The New York Times, state health authorities believe the virus was spread by a local mosquito, not through travel. Officials stressed there's no evidence of person-to-person spread, and that cooler fall temperatures mean the risk of further transmission is "very low".

"While this case is concerning, the risk to New Yorkers is currently very low," said Health Commissioner James McDonald, in a statement shared Tuesday.

Chikungunya is a mos...