GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a global health warning, warning that the world is on the brink of a major chikungunya epidemic, similar to the devastating outbreak that spread worldwide in 2004–2005.
Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus, causes severe joint pain, fever, and fatigue, with symptoms often mistaken for dengue or Zika. While the fatality rate is less than 1%, widespread infection could lead to thousands of deaths, WHO warned.
“Chikungunya is not widely known, but it has already been detected in 119 countries, putting 5.6 billion people at risk,” said Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO’s technical lead on the disease.
From 2004 to 2005, chikungunya spread from small Indian Ocean islands to multiple continents, infecting nearly half a million people. The WHO fears a repeat scenario as major outbreaks have now hit Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius, with one-third of Reunion’s population already infected.
The virus is also spreading to Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya, and South Asia, while Europe has reported imported cases, including local transmission in France and suspected cases in Italy.
“We are raising the alarm early so countries can prepare, detect, and strengthen their response before it’s too late,” Rojas Alvarez said.
The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquitoes) — known for their ability to adapt to new climates — are driving the spread. Climate change is pushing these mosquitoes farther north, increasing the risk of outbreaks in new regions.
WHO urged the public to take preventive measures, including mosquito repellents, covering water containers, and eliminating stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.
