The chikungunya virus is causing concern as it spreads across numerous countries, prompting the CDC to issue travel alerts. The United States’ CDC is cautioning travelers about areas where the mosquito-borne virus is prevalent, with specific warnings for those traveling to China, which has reported 7,000 cases. The global impact has been significant, with approximately 240,000 chikungunya cases recorded this year in Central and South America, Africa, the Indian Ocean region, and parts of Asia, resulting in 90 deaths. In Guangdong province, southern China, over 7,000 cases have been documented since June 2025. Furthermore, Hong Kong recently reported its first case since 2019.
The CDC’s Level-2 Travel Health Notice highlights the need for increased vigilance, affecting regions such as Bolivia, China’s Guangdong province, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. Warnings have also been issued for travelers to Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Chikungunya infections are not unknown in the United States, although they were infrequent before 2006. Between 2006 and 2013, the average annual count of infections among Americans was 28, with all cases stemming from travel to or from affected regions in Asia, Africa, and the Indian Ocean. The CDC notes that there have been no locally transmitted cases in the U.S. since 2019, though 199 cases were reported in 2024 and 46 cases so far in 2025 among Americans who contracted the virus while traveling.
