The danger bell is ringing for Chikungunya, who can cause a global epidemic. The virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating. In some cases it may be fatal.
The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of dengue fever and Zika virus, which makes it difficult to diagnose, according to WHO.
“Chikungunya is not a widely known illness, but has been detected and transmitted to 119 countries worldwide, endangering 5.6 billion people,” said Diana Rochas Alvarez.
He reminded that in the period 2004-2005 a large epidemic of Chikungunya spread to the Indian Ocean, hitting small islands first and then spread worldwide, affecting almost half a million people. In Europe, imported cases have been reported that are linked to the outbreak of the Indian Ocean islands. Local broadcasting has been reported in France, and suspicious cases have been detected in Italy.
“Because these transmission patterns were also observed in the 2004 outburst, who demands urgent action to avoid repeating the story,” Alvarez said.
He noted that the mortality rate is less than 1%, “but when you start counting millions of cases, this 1% may mean thousands of deaths. We are sounding the alarm from early on so that countries can prepare in time, detect and enhance their abilities to avoid great epidemics. “
Tiger mosquitoes
Alvarez explained that in areas where populations have little or no immunity, the virus can rapidly cause significant epidemics, affecting up to three -quarters of the population.
Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of contaminated females, mainly the species of Aedes Aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
The latter, also known as a tiger mosquito, extends further north as the planet is heated due to anthropogenic climate change. Ting mainly during the day, with increased activity in the morning and late in the afternoon.
The WHO urged citizens to protect themselves by taking measures such as the use of insect repellents and avoiding stagnant water in containers such as buckets, where mosquitoes can be reproduced.
“Today, the WHO observes the appearance of the same motif: Since the beginning of 2025, Renion, Majot and Mauritius have reported important chikungunya epidemics. It is estimated that one -third of the Reyninion population is already infected, “he said in a press conference in Geneva.
