Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, And Sri Lanka Is Now Experiencing Outbreaks Of Chikungunya Continues To Spread: Here Is What You Need To Know

Published on September 9, 2025

Recent outbreaks of chikungunya microorganism person been reported successful respective countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. The virus, dispersed chiefly by mosquitoes, poses a wellness consequence to some locals and world travelers. As these outbreaks proceed to unfold, knowing really to protect yourself from this illness is important for safe travel.

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is simply a viral unwellness transmitted to humans done nan wound of infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes responsible for spreading chikungunya beryllium to nan Aedes genus, chiefly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infected individuals often acquisition fever, terrible associated pain, musculus pain, associated swelling, and a characteristic rash. In immoderate cases, these symptoms tin persist for weeks, leaving semipermanent effects.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Chikungunya?

Prevention is cardinal erstwhile walking to regions experiencing chikungunya outbreaks. Here are immoderate basal tips for staying safe:

• Use Insect Repellent: Apply insect repellents containing DEET aliases different recommended progressive ingredients to your tegument and clothing. This is nan astir effective measurement to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• Wear Protective Clothing: Choose long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize tegument vulnerability to mosquitoes. Opt for light-coloured clothes, arsenic they are little charismatic to mosquitoes.
• Stay successful Air-Conditioned aliases Screened Areas: Whenever possible, enactment successful air-conditioned accommodations aliases places pinch screens connected windows and doors to support mosquitoes astatine bay.
• Use Mosquito Nets: If you’re staying successful a spot without aerial conditioning, sleeping nether a mosquito nett tin connection added protection.

Why Is Vaccination Important for Travelers?

Chikungunya illness is prevalent successful tons of countries and if you are readying connected going there, you should see vaccination for it arsenic good arsenic immoderate different diseases which mightiness beryllium astir there. Currently, location is nary circumstantial aliases targeted vaccination for chikungunya, truthful you will person to salary very adjacent attraction to immoderate symptoms and make judge to talk to a healthcare supplier a fewer weeks earlier your travel.

Travel Advisory for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women should reconsider recreation to regions pinch ongoing chikungunya outbreaks, peculiarly if they are adjacent to their transportation date. The microorganism tin beryllium transmitted from an infected mother to her babe during childbirth, either via mosquito bites aliases successful uncommon cases, vertically during delivery. Newborns infected successful this mode are astatine consequence of terrible unwellness and imaginable semipermanent complications.

Healthcare specialists urge this group of travelers to analyse nan benefits and risks of getting vaccinated versus staying pinch individual protective measures to little nan chances of getting nan chikungunya virus.

What Should You Do if You Develop Symptoms?

If you acquisition symptoms of chikungunya during aliases aft your trip, activity contiguous aesculapian attention. Symptoms whitethorn include:

• Fever
• Severe associated pain (especially successful nan wrists, knees, and ankles)
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint swelling
• Rash

Although nan unwellness is seldom fatal, early curen tin thief negociate symptoms and trim discomfort. Healthcare providers whitethorn connection symptom alleviation medications to negociate associated symptom and swelling.

For Clinicians: Important Guidance

Healthcare professionals are advised to enactment up-to-date connected chikungunya vaccination protocols and nan latest guidelines for travelers. For individuals readying to sojourn affected regions, clinicians should reappraisal nan traveler’s wellness status, vaccination history, and consequence factors associated pinch their destination.

Vaccination risks and benefits must beryllium addressed pinch each traveler based connected nan recreation destination, activities planned, and long of stay. Information connected chikungunya and its preventive methods should beryllium given.

Final Thoughts: Stay Informed and Safe

As outbreaks of chikungunya proceed to impact Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, taking nan basal precautions is basal for preventing infection. By protecting yourself from mosquito bites and staying informed connected nan latest wellness advisories, you tin bask your travels while reducing nan consequence of illness. Pregnant travelers, successful particular, should workout be aware and consult aesculapian professionals earlier making recreation plans.