Chikungunya Cases Increasing in Several Countries in the Americas

2026-02-17 - 11:27

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert following a sustained increase in chikungunya cases in several countries in the Americas since late 2025 and into early 2026. The alert also highlights the re-emergence of local transmission in areas that had not reported virus circulation in several years. While this trend is consistent with expected patterns in areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector is present, environmental factors such as extreme temperatures favor mosquito breeding. The persistence of the virus in endemic areas, along with the circulation of the Asian and East, Central, and South African (ECSA) genotypes, underscores the need for sensitive surveillance and a timely response. “Chikungunya spread across the Americas in 2013, and after years of low transmission, we are now observing a resurgence, particularly in the Intertropical Zone where Aedes aegypti is present,” said Sylvain Aldighieri, Director of Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination at PAHO. “The purpose of this alert is to ensure that health workers and governments are prepared for potential outbreaks and can plan public information campaigns.” PAHO recommends that countries strengthen epidemiological and laboratory surveillance to detect cases and outbreaks early, ensure proper clinical management–especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under 1 year of age, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions—and intensify integrated vector management actions, including the elimination of mosquito breeding sites. Chikungunya is a virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti and potentially Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which also spread dengue, Zika, and other arboviruses. Infection can cause high fever and severe joint pain, often debilitating, along with muscle pain, headache, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Other, non-articular symptoms can range from mild to severe, with higher risk in children under 1-year, older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. Chikungunya can also cause chronic joint pain, which may last from weeks to several months in about 60% of cases. There is no specific antiviral treatment; acute symptoms are managed with analgesics and antipyretics. High-risk patients should be assessed by health professionals for potential hospitalization and monitoring to prevent severe complications and fatalities.