Last week, the U.S. government announced two essential updates to alert international travelers to various Chikungunya outbreaks in the Indian Ocean and expanded vaccination options.
The Health and Human Services Secretary recently adopted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ vaccine recommendations for specific people traveling or residing in a country or territory with a risk of the mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya virus.
This announcement means two Chikungunya vaccines are available in the United States at travel clinics and pharmacies as of May 18, 2025.
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. CDC published a Level 2—Practice Enhanced Precautions, disclosing that mosquitoes currently spread the virus that causes Chikungunya in Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.
Since August 2024, France’s La Réunion Island has reported that Chikungunya has become endemic. As of May 12, 2025, about 47,000 confirmed cases and nine deaths had been reported. The municipalities of Étang-Salé and Le Tampon have the highest number of cases.
The CDC wrote, ‘You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, which includes using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in places with air conditioning or screens on the windows and doors.
The CDC also recommends vaccination for travelers visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak.
Additionally, on the other side of the planet, in the Region of the Americas, about 136,000 Chikungunya cases were reported in 2025, led by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.
These announcements are essential as most people infected with the Chikungunya virus develop some symptoms, and severe joint pain can occur for months to years following acute illness.
The CDC says people at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
Furthermore, disease prevention is key as no specific treatment for Chikungunya exists.
