The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued multiple travel warnings urging travelers to be careful and get vaccinated against a mosquito-born illness.
The CDC says the chikungunya disease has affected areas in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Because of these infections, the agency issued Level 2 travel warnings stating that for certain countries, people should “Practice Enhanced Precautions” if they visit.
The chikungunya disease is spread to humans through mosquito bites and can lead to symptoms that usually begin within a week after the bite.
The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, but people can also experience headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash.
Symptoms can improve within a week but some people can have severe joint pain for months to years following acute illness, the agency reports. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (65 years or older) and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Death from chikungunya is rare.
The travel warnings were issued for the following places:
- Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Mayotte, France
- Réunion, France
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Guangdong Province, China
Those who decide to travel to these locations can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants and staying in places with air conditioning or that have screens on the windows and doors, according to the CDC.
No medications to treat the virus have been created, however vaccinations against chikungunya exist and are recommended for travelers who visit these destinations.
In the U.S., two chikungunya vaccines have been approved: the live-attenuated vaccine (IXCHIQ), licensed in November 2023 for adults 18 and older, and the virus-like particle vaccine (VIMKUNYA), licensed in February 2025 for those 12 and older.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Source link
