The World Health Organization has raised concerns about the growing spread of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, with recent outbreaks surfacing in the Indian Ocean region, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
The World Health Organization has issued a global alert over the resurgence of the chikungunya virus, warning that a repeat of the 2004–2005 epidemic may be underway. At that time, the outbreak began in island nations and eventually spread worldwide, affecting nearly half a million people. The current wave appears to be following a similar pattern.
According to The Economic Times, the virus which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, has seen new outbreaks in 2025 across the Indian Ocean region, including La Réunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius. In La Réunion alone, health officials estimate that nearly one-third of the population has already been infected. The disease, which causes high fever and joint pain, has no specific treatment and may lead to long-term health complications in some individuals.
The WHO also confirmed that the virus is spreading further into Madagascar, Somalia, and Kenya, with rising evidence of transmission in Southeast Asia, including India. The presence of the virus in India has been documented in past years, but recent trends point to a broader and more consistent spread.
Europe is now also reporting rising imported cases. France has recorded about 800 such cases since May 1, and twelve instances of local transmission have been confirmed in its southern regions, where mosquitoes infected people without them having travelled abroad. Italy reported one locally transmitted case last week, signaling a potential shift in chikungunya’s geographic reach.
The virus is mainly spread during daylight hours by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same species responsible for dengue and Zika transmission. The WHO has emphasized the importance of prevention through mosquito control, the use of insect repellents, and protective clothing, especially in high-risk areas.
As global temperatures rise and mosquito habitats expand, the WHO is urging countries to act quickly to monitor and manage the disease’s spread before another large-scale epidemic takes hold.
