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WHO warns against surge of chikungunya disease, calls for urgent action
Virus spreading beyond Indian Ocean into Africa, South Asia, and Europe, says agency's team lead on arboviruses
Beyza Binnur Donmez |
22.07.2025 - Update : 22.07.2025
GENEVA
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned that the world could face a repeat of the 2005 chikungunya epidemic unless urgent action is taken to contain the virus' spread.
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"The pattern mirrors what we saw in 2004–2005," Rojas warned. "We must act now to avoid history repeating itself."
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22-07-2025
Press Conferences | IPU , UNRWA , WHO , OCHA
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 22 July 2025
...
Update on the global Chikungunya viral disease situation
Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, World Health Organization (WHO) Team Lead on Arboviruses, said Chikungunya was a disease which was not widely known, but had been detected and transmitted in 119 countries. Around 5.5 million people lived at risk of this mosquito-borne virus. It could cause widespread outbreaks and put pressure on the health system. Its symptoms were mostly acute; high fever, debilitating joint pain and fatigue. A 40 percent of people affected with Chikungunya could develop disabilities which lasted months or even years. In rare cases, the illness could be deadly. About 20 years ago, there was a major Chikungunya outbreak which swept across the Indian ocean, affecting almost half a million people. Today WHO was seeing the same pattern emerge. Around one third of the population of La Réunion were currently estimated to be infected with Chikungunya. There had been transmissions occurring in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, and India, as well as cases reported in Europe. Cases had been reported in France and a case last week in Italy. WHO were calling for urgent action to prevent history form repeating itself. It was important to bring cases under control as soon as possible and limit the number effected. WHO were supporting member states in developing their lab diagnostics, training staff, strengthening the healthcare system, and scaling up surveillance to track and control outbreaks.
Responding to questions from the media, Dr. Rojas Alvarez said the quick spread of the virus was repeating itself like 20 years ago, which was concerning. WHO were raising the alarm early, to allow countries to prepare and avoid large outbreaks. There were two Chikungunya vaccines available, but they were mostly used only as travellers’ vaccines. WHO was closely monitoring the situation of Chikungunya to inform recommendations which would be coming out soon. A strategic advisory group was being set up and would meet in the next few weeks.
Responding to further questions, Dr. Alvarez said that 20 years ago, the spreading of the virus was characterized to give the long-term disabilities. This virus affected completely healthy people and impacted the joints, hands and feet, meaning people couldn’t hold a pen or cook; it had a huge impact on their quality of life. WHO was aiming to bring awareness to the virus to help people protect themselves.
Answering further questions, Dr. Alvarez said most of the countries in tropical areas such as Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico, and many others, had mosquitos which carried Chikungunya. There had been 800 imported cases of Chikungunya in continental France, and 12 transmission episodes. In non-endemic areas, doctors were not used to these tropical diseases, and WHO’s European offices had been working to train healthcare workers. There had been no cases detected yet in Switzerland and no cases reported yet in Spain and other European countries. However, the risk was there. A female mosquito could infect for many days and it was important to control the breeding sites as eggs could stay there for months and once hatched, continue the vicious circle of infections.
Responding to further questions, Dr. Alvarez said the virus most reported from Mexico was Dengue but there had recently been reports of a few thousand cases of Chikungunya. Mexico was strengthening their capacities for lab diagnostics and surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases which were typical to the region. No cases had been reported in the United States this year.
Dr. Alvarez said the case in Italy was reported in the Piacenza province; it was currently being followed up. These mosquitoes typically bit during the day, which was why bed nets were not useful to prevent Chikungunya.
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Virus spreading beyond Indian Ocean into Africa, South Asia, and Europe, says agency's team lead on arboviruses
Beyza Binnur Donmez |
22.07.2025 - Update : 22.07.2025
GENEVA
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned that the world could face a repeat of the 2005 chikungunya epidemic unless urgent action is taken to contain the virus' spread.
...
"The pattern mirrors what we saw in 2004–2005," Rojas warned. "We must act now to avoid history repeating itself."
...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
22-07-2025
Press Conferences | IPU , UNRWA , WHO , OCHA
UN Geneva Press Briefing - 22 July 2025
...
Update on the global Chikungunya viral disease situation
Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, World Health Organization (WHO) Team Lead on Arboviruses, said Chikungunya was a disease which was not widely known, but had been detected and transmitted in 119 countries. Around 5.5 million people lived at risk of this mosquito-borne virus. It could cause widespread outbreaks and put pressure on the health system. Its symptoms were mostly acute; high fever, debilitating joint pain and fatigue. A 40 percent of people affected with Chikungunya could develop disabilities which lasted months or even years. In rare cases, the illness could be deadly. About 20 years ago, there was a major Chikungunya outbreak which swept across the Indian ocean, affecting almost half a million people. Today WHO was seeing the same pattern emerge. Around one third of the population of La Réunion were currently estimated to be infected with Chikungunya. There had been transmissions occurring in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, and India, as well as cases reported in Europe. Cases had been reported in France and a case last week in Italy. WHO were calling for urgent action to prevent history form repeating itself. It was important to bring cases under control as soon as possible and limit the number effected. WHO were supporting member states in developing their lab diagnostics, training staff, strengthening the healthcare system, and scaling up surveillance to track and control outbreaks.
Responding to questions from the media, Dr. Rojas Alvarez said the quick spread of the virus was repeating itself like 20 years ago, which was concerning. WHO were raising the alarm early, to allow countries to prepare and avoid large outbreaks. There were two Chikungunya vaccines available, but they were mostly used only as travellers’ vaccines. WHO was closely monitoring the situation of Chikungunya to inform recommendations which would be coming out soon. A strategic advisory group was being set up and would meet in the next few weeks.
Responding to further questions, Dr. Alvarez said that 20 years ago, the spreading of the virus was characterized to give the long-term disabilities. This virus affected completely healthy people and impacted the joints, hands and feet, meaning people couldn’t hold a pen or cook; it had a huge impact on their quality of life. WHO was aiming to bring awareness to the virus to help people protect themselves.
Answering further questions, Dr. Alvarez said most of the countries in tropical areas such as Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico, and many others, had mosquitos which carried Chikungunya. There had been 800 imported cases of Chikungunya in continental France, and 12 transmission episodes. In non-endemic areas, doctors were not used to these tropical diseases, and WHO’s European offices had been working to train healthcare workers. There had been no cases detected yet in Switzerland and no cases reported yet in Spain and other European countries. However, the risk was there. A female mosquito could infect for many days and it was important to control the breeding sites as eggs could stay there for months and once hatched, continue the vicious circle of infections.
Responding to further questions, Dr. Alvarez said the virus most reported from Mexico was Dengue but there had recently been reports of a few thousand cases of Chikungunya. Mexico was strengthening their capacities for lab diagnostics and surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases which were typical to the region. No cases had been reported in the United States this year.
Dr. Alvarez said the case in Italy was reported in the Piacenza province; it was currently being followed up. These mosquitoes typically bit during the day, which was why bed nets were not useful to prevent Chikungunya.
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