Coronavirus Breaking News

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today announced updated surveillance data on chikungunya fever cases in the state.

As of February 4, 2026, the data emphasize the ongoing risks associated with travel to chikungunya-endemic areas, particularly Cuba, as well as the rare but noteworthy occurrence of local transmission in Florida.

As of the latest reporting period (#4) in 2026, nine cases have been confirmed among individuals with travel history to chikungunya-endemic areas within two weeks before onset, all linked to travel to Cuba.

And one case of locally acquired chikungunya fever was reported in Miami-Dade County, with symptom onset in December 2025. 

In 2025, a total of 350 chikungunya cases were reported among individuals who had recently traveled to chikungunya-endemic areas. These cases were distributed across multiple Florida counties, with Miami-Dade County reporting the highest number at 229.

Chikungunya fever is a viral illness primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Most individuals recover completely; however, joint pain can be debilitating and may persist for months in some cases. There is no specific antiviral treatment, but supportive care can help relieve symptoms.

The DOH and the U.S. CDC advise travelers to endemic areas to consult local healthcare clinics about preventive strategies, including vaccination options. In Florida and most states, U.S. FDA-approved chikungunya vaccines are available in 2026.

The Republic of Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare announced today that the Dengue vaccination strategy, initially targeted at children in priority municipalities, is now being expanded to include individuals aged 39 and younger.

Announced on February 3, 2026, this decision is based on an epidemiological analysis conducted over recent years, which indicates a significant burden of Dengue not only among children but also among adolescents and young adults.

Between 2019 and 2024, the 20 to 39-year-old age group accounted for more than 108,000 Dengue cases in this South American country, reflecting one of the highest incidence rates recorded.

These findings support the extension of the second-generation, two-dose, Qdenga (TAK-003) vaccine, which protects against all four serotypes of the Dengue virus.

Paraguay says vaccination is a critical component of a comprehensive strategy that includes epidemiological surveillance and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of Dengue in the country.

Paraguay's neighbor, Brazil, recently announced it would focus on a newly approved third-generation, single-dose Butantan-DV vaccine for its residents.

Currently, Dengue vaccines are unavailable in the continental United States.

Three months after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as the strongest Category 5 storm ever to hit the Caribbean island, the country's health system is still in the process of recovery.

The aftermath has resulted in widespread damage and ongoing public health risks.

In this interview, published on February 2, 2026, Ian Stein, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization country representative in Jamaica, shares insights into the realities of recovery, lessons learned, and what success looks like in a complex emergency.

As of 2026, the U.S. CDC website states that, in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, travel by land may be dangerous in flood zones, and the healthcare infrastructure has been damaged in these areas.

There may be an increased risk of waterborne (including leptospirosis), vector-borne, and fungal diseases. And avoid contact with floodwater.

Furthermore, before visiting Jamaica in 2026, check the list of recommended vaccines and medications and see your travel health provider at least a month before your trip to get any you may need. 

From a security perspective, the U.S. Department of State lowered its advisory for Jamaica to Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution on January 17, 2026, citing crime, health, and natural-disaster risks.

The State Department advisory clarifies that some areas have an increased risk. The U.S. advises against traveling to these areas for any reason.

Chikungunya is a viral disease spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Since 2013, the virus has been detected in the Americas, and it has rapidly spread throughout Brazil.

Brazil has reported the highest number of chikungunya cases worldwide, including 246 related fatalities in 2024.

As of early February 2026, Brazil has reported 1,480 suspected and 180 confirmed cases of chikungunya.

In response to this serious public health issue, Brazil is taking additional measures to secure access to chikungunya vaccines.

Valneva SE today announced the launch of a Pilot Vaccination Strategy (PVS) in Brazil in collaboration with Instituto Butantan, one of the world's largest biomedical research centers. The companies initially signed a technology transfer agreement in January 2021.

This new PVS program will utilize Valneva's single-dose chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ®.

The goal of this program is to support post-marketing commitment studies that will assess the effectiveness and safety of IXCHIQ® in real-world conditions, providing valuable data from a large population.

Esper Kallas, M.D., Ph.D., The Director of the Instituto Butantan outlined the path toward the PVS program on February 3, 2026, stating: "With ongoing engagement from the Ministry of Health, regional health secretaries, and ANVISA, I am confident that we have established a program that is both robust and compliant with regulatory standards."

"These combined efforts are expected to ensure timely access to vaccination and alleviate the significant public health burden associated with this arboviral disease."

This initiative follows an announcement in January 2026 by Eurofarma. This Brazilian pharmaceutical company stated that it had acquired the rights to sell and distribute Bavarian Nordic's chikungunya vaccine, CHIKV VLP (VIMKUNYA®), in Brazil.

These actions in Brazil may help the state of Florida reduce the number of travel-related chikungunya cases. As of December 2025, 328 travel-related chikungunya cases have been confirmed, many in Miami-Dade County.

Furthermore, 14 cases of chikungunya fever were reported in 2026 among persons who had traveled internationally, with one local case in southeastern Florida.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) announced yesterday that it is investigating a new confirmed case of measles in an individual who recently returned from international travel.

This case, the second reported in the county as of February 1, 2026, involves a traveler who was infectious while passing through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and visiting at least one other public location.

LACDPH officials are warning that anyone present in Terminal B from 10:45 p.m. on January 26 to 1 a.m. on January 27 may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.

In collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local health departments are notifying passengers seated near the traveler on the international flight. An additional potential exposure site at Dunkin' Donuts, 22020 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364, on January 30, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

California has reported several cases so far in 2026, including this one in Los Angeles County and related exposures in neighboring Orange County, where the traveler also visited popular locations such as Disneyland.

"Measles is a serious respiratory disease that spreads easily through the air and on surfaces, particularly among people who are not already protected against it," said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer, in a recent press release.

"A person can spread the illness to others before symptoms appear, and it can take 7 to 21 days for symptoms to show up after exposure. Measles can lead to severe disease in young children and vulnerable adults."

"As LA County residents begin to travel this summer, and with measles cases increasing among those who have traveled recently, we remind everyone that the best way to protect yourself and your family from infection is through the highly effective measles vaccine."

LACDPH says anyone who believes they may have been exposed should consult a healthcare provider promptly and inform them of their potential exposure before any in-person visit to avoid further spread in medical settings.

These LAX cases come amid a significant national rise in measles cases.

As of late January 2026, the CDC reported 588 confirmed cases in the United States, marking the highest January total since the country declared measles eliminated in 2000. Current outbreaks have been identified in South Carolina and Utah.

In 2025, the U.S. recorded 2,242 cases, one of the highest annual totals in decades.

As of February 2026, the CDC continues publishing a global measles outbreak Travel Health Notice, alerting international travelers to this health risk. To locate a travel vaccine clinic, visit Vax-Before-Travel.com. 

Despite the United Kingdom (UK) maintaining high vaccination coverage and remaining polio-free for decades, recent detections of poliovirus in wastewater have emerged as a significant early warning signal.

As of January 28, 2026, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported the detection of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in an environmental sample in the UK.

This finding was part of routine wastewater surveillance conducted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and is part of ongoing efforts to monitor for poliovirus in sewage systems.

This recent detection aligns with a pattern of similar findings in the UK. Previous cVDPV2 detections in the UK during 2025 and late 2024 were linked to specific sites, for example:

A single sample from Shoreham STW on January 20, 2025 (with follow-up negative).

Other 2025 instances in regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber (September 2025 sample).

Detections in late 2024 from East Worthing STW (covering parts of West Sussex), Leeds Knostrop STW, and London Beckton/Crossness STWs.

In June 2022, UKHSA announced that environmental surveillance for polio had consistently detected poliovirus in sewage samples collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in London.

Additional cases were noted in sources like the GPEI's weekly updates and UKHSA reports.

The strain involved in the recent UK detections has often been genetically linked to broader international clusters. In late 2024 and into 2025, a specific genetic cluster of cVDPV2—originating from lineages first observed in Nigeria—was detected in wastewater across multiple European countries, including the UK.

These detections underscored the risk of importation and silent circulation in under-vaccinated areas, prompting calls from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of January 30, 2026, the CDC's Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Notice lists 32 countries, including the UK. The CDC advises speaking with a travel vaccine advisor about immunization options before visiting countries at high risk for poliovirus.

CDC health experts say that as long as the poliovirus circulates anywhere, the risk of importation persists, even in polio-free regions.

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of French Guiana has announced the detection of the territory's first locally acquired case of chikungunya. The individual, who had not traveled in the 15 days before the onset of symptoms, tested positive for the virus on January 21, 2026.

As of January 27, 2026, ARS described this chikungunya case in a press release as isolated, with no evidence of wider transmission of the mosquito-borne viral disease in this French department on the northeast coast of South America.

While no large-scale outbreak was reported in French Guiana during 2025, the new locally acquired case indicates the need for renewed vigilance. Health authorities in French Guiana are implementing standard response measures, including enhanced mosquito control, public education on eliminating breeding sites, and surveillance to monitor for additional cases.

Currently, ARS emphasized that, while this remains an isolated case, continued monitoring is essential given the virus's transmission dynamics and the presence of vectors in the territory. 

This development in French Guiana occurs amid significant chikungunya activity in French overseas departments and territories throughout 2025. The virus experienced a considerable resurgence in the Indian Ocean region, particularly in La Réunion, where a large-scale outbreak began in late 2024 and peaked in early 2025.

By mid-September 2025, La Réunion had reported over 54,500 confirmed cases and 40 deaths.

In early 2026, the Pan American Health Organization reported that Brazil (180) and Suriname (39) had reported confirmed chikungunya cases in the region this year.

In the United States, one local case was confirmed in Florida as of week #3 in 2026.

And off Florida's southeast coast, Cuba has confirmed a significant number of chikungunya cases.

Chikungunya has no specific antiviral treatment; management focuses on relieving symptoms through rest, hydration, and pain relievers. Prevention through vector control remains the cornerstone of response efforts.

Additionally, a U.S. FDA-approved single-dose aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted, non-live, virus-like particle vaccine chikungunya vaccine is available at travel clinics in the U.S.