Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday sounded the alarm over a concerning global resurgence of the Chikungunya virus, warning that the current pattern mirrors the devastating outbreak that swept across the Indian Ocean region two decades ago.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Dr. Diana Alvarez, WHO Team Lead on Arboviruses, highlighted during a press conference in Geneva that Chikungunya is now being detected and transmitted in 119 countries. Approximately 5.6 billion people reside in areas at risk for chikungunya and other mosquito-borne viruses. She noted that the virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, known as the "tiger mosquito," which also spread Zika and urban yellow fever.
Dr. Alvarez explained that Chikungunya can lead to rapid and widespread outbreaks in areas lacking population immunity, putting immense pressure on healthcare systems. Symptoms typically include high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, rash, and fatigue. While most cases last a few days, up to 40 percent of infected individuals develop long-term disabilities. In rare cases, the disease can be fatal, particularly among the elderly and newborns.
Recalling the 2004-2005 epidemic, Alvarez noted that nearly half a million cases were reported across small island territories in the Indian Ocean and parts of Southeast Asia. She emphasized that the virus is now expanding into Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya, and parts of South Asia, with imported cases emerging in Europe. Local transmission has already been reported in France, with a recent case detected in Italy.
WHO is assisting member states by enhancing laboratory diagnostics, training healthcare workers, strengthening clinical management, improving risk communication, and boosting mosquito control and surveillance systems. Alvarez stressed the importance of prevention, as there is no specific treatment for Chikungunya. While two vaccines have received regulatory approval in some countries, WHO is yet to issue global recommendations.
Alvarez urged countries to act swiftly to strengthen detection and response capacities to avoid large-scale outbreaks, confirming that WHO is closely monitoring the situation and convening a strategic advisory group to evaluate potential guidance.