Chikungunya Surges Again in Indian Ocean French Department

Health authorities in Mayotte, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, reported 219 confirmed cases of chikungunya since the beginning of 2026. This increase signifies a notable resurgence of the mosquito-borne viral disease on the island, raising ongoing health concerns, especially following larger outbreaks in nearby territories in 2025.

According to updates from TravelHealthPro surveillance bulletins published by Santé Publique France, most of these chikungunya cases are believed to be locally acquired, due to favorable conditions for the Aedes mosquito vectors.

The current 2026 resurgence appears more concentrated in the southern communes of the main island of Grande-Terre.

After several years of relative calm, Mayotte experienced imported cases linked to significant epidemics in neighboring La Réunion, which reported over 54,000 confirmed local cases in 2025 before declaring the outbreak over in June of that year. Other Indian Ocean islands, such as Mauritius and Madagascar, also contributed to these imported cases.

Locally transmitted cases in Mayotte re-emerged in early 2025, prompting the activation of a travel alert in March 2025.

This ongoing situation highlights the persistent threat posed by climate-sensitive arboviruses in tropical and subtropical regions, where environmental factors and travel can quickly reignite transmission. French authorities are urging both residents and visitors to remain proactive in prevention efforts to curb further spread of the disease.

In a broader context for 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported over 23,000 chikungunya cases in the Americas, primarily in Brazil and Cuba.

In the United States, Florida recently confirmed both travel-related and one local case.

As of March 4, 2026, chikungunya vaccines are commercially available at travel clinics in the Americas and Europe.