Chikungunya Outbreaks Continue As Global Concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) today published a Disease Outbreak News regarding the global outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya virus disease.

On October 3, 2025, the WHO stated 155 Chikungunya-related fatalities have been reported globally from 40 countries, including autochthonous (local) and travel-imported cases.

Some WHO Regions are experiencing significant increases in case numbers compared to 2024, although others are not. This uneven distribution of cases across regions makes it challenging to characterize the situation as a global rise; however, given the ongoing outbreaks reported globally in 2025, the potential for further spread remains significant.

For example, in the Region of the Americas, Cuba has reported 34 cases in the provinces of Guantanamo, La Habana, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, and Santiago de Cuba. 

This data compares with France, which reported 633 local cases and over 1,000 imported cases of Chikungunya in 2025.

The variation in distribution of cases across regions highlights the importance of continued investment in surveillance, preparedness, and response capacities to address evolving regional dynamics.

The WHO continues to urge all countries to strengthen their healthcare and laboratory systems to facilitate rapid detection, timely reporting, and an effective response to Chikungunya outbreaks.

Countries vary in their capacity to detect and report Chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases, such as Dengue, Malaria, and Zika. Outbreaks are often undetected and reported retrospectively, meaning that real-time epidemiological data, which are necessary for effective public health responses, are lacking. 

There are currently two Chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk in several countries. The WHO and external expert advisors are reviewing vaccine trial and post-marketing data in the context of global Chikungunya epidemiology to inform possible recommendations for use. 

Currently, the U.S. CDC and the United Kingdom recommend Chikungunya vaccination for travelers visiting areas with outbreaks. Vaccines are commercailly offered at clinics and pharmacies in the United States.