Could YOU have the deadly chikungunya virus? The signs and symptoms to look out for
Alarmed about the continued spread of the chikungunya virus, US health officials have issued more travel advisories, warning Americans to take caution when traveling.
Last week, the CDC issued two new level 2 travel warnings for the Seychelles and Suriname, advising all travelers to ‘practice advanced precautions.’
Last year, a chikungunya virus outbreak began in China, when the country faced what was believed to be its largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease.
More than 16,000 cases were reported in China and the CDC issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the country, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region.
Further advisories followed for Kenya, Cuba, Madagascar, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
While the CDC did not specify what precautions travelers should take, a Level 2 warning typically requires using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and ensuring hotel rooms or home rentals are fully sealed with screens or air conditioning.
Globally since 2025, there have been more than 240,000 chikungunya cases, and 90 chikungunya-related deaths have been reported in 16 countries.
Below, Daily Mail reveals everything you need to know about chikungunya virus:
The epicenter of the chikungunya virus outbreak last year in China was the city of Foshan, on China’s southern coast, where heavy rains and warm temperatures have led to an explosion in the mosquito population
What is chikungunya virus and where did it start?
Chikungunya virus is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the same species that carry dengue and Zika viruses.
Concern over the virus was first raised last summer, when China began seeing an outbreak of the virus.
At the time, Roger Hewson, virus surveillance lead at the UK’s Wellcome Sanger Institute, said it was the largest-ever outbreak in China.
To combat the spread of the virus, Chinese officials had ordered travelers from Foshan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, similar to Covid restrictions, but that has since been withdrawn.
Infected patients were being isolated in hospital wards and covered with mosquito nets. They were required to remain there for a week or until they tested negative, if sooner.
Images also showed Chinese state workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas and construction sites where people may come into contact with infected mosquitoes in or near standing water.
Drones were also reportedly being used to hunt down insect breeding grounds and spray insecticide, and residents were asked to empty bottles, flower pots or other outdoor receptacles that may collect water.
Failure to comply with any restriction was leading to fines of up to $1,400 (10,000 Yuan), and locals were threatened to have their electricity cut off, according to state media.
The virus is rarely fatal but can cause debilitating symptoms.
What are chikungunya virus symptoms?
The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region
Symptoms of chikungunya virus include headache, nausea, rash (as seen above) and muscle aches
About 15 to 35 percent of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, the CDC reports.
The incubation period is typically three to seven days, and the most common symptom is a sudden onset of a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
Other symptoms of chikungunya virus include headache, nausea, rash, muscle aches, swelling and redness of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye and inner eyelids) and joint pain that is sometimes severe and debilitating in the hands or feet.
In severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain can occur such as inflammation, irregular heartbeats and organ failure.
Symptoms usually last seven to 10 days, but patients may experience lifelong complications such as persistent joint pain.
Those experiencing symptoms or who think they are infected with the virus should contact their primary care provider or visit a hospital.
Infections can be diagnosed through a patient history, symptoms, blood tests and serum tests.
Is the virus in the US?
The above compares chikungunya symptoms to those from Zika virus and Dengue, which are both also spread by mosquitoes
Chikungunya virus is rare in the US and is almost always in people traveling to the US or returning to the US from countries where the virus is more common.
Last year, there were 466 travel-associated cases and one locally acquired case in a woman from Long Island.
In September 2025, New York health officials reported that a 60-year-old Hempstead, Long Island woman was diagnosed with a suspected case the previous month.
Having not traveled off the island, lab tests have since confirmed she contracted the virus locally, marking the first locally acquired case ever recorded in New York City.
Three additional people in New York tested positive for chikungunya in 2025 after returning from countries where the virus is known to circulate, according to the the city’s Department of Health.
Before that, a locally acquired case hadn’t been reported in the US since 2015 in Texas.
No deaths have been reported.
The Pan American Health Organization warns that chikungunya cases are on the rise across the Americas with hotspots in Brazil and Bolivia.
What is the CDC saying?
The above map shows the area in China where US travelers are being advised to take enhanced precautions because of the outbreak
The CDC is warning Americans to take extra precautions when traveling to high-risk areas.
The agency issued the first level 2 travel alert in the summer of 2025 for China, which has since been removed.
Chikungunya-related travel advisories currently still in effect from 2025 are for Cuba and Sri Lanka.
Health officials say that US travelers are also at elevated risk of exposure to chikungunya in Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand.
A Level 2 Advisory for travel viruses from the CDC means travelers should ‘Practice Enhanced Precautions’ for their destination. This indicates a heightened health risk due to specific disease outbreaks, and travelers should take extra measures to protect themselves.
The agency is advising travelers to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and to stay in places with air conditioning.
Travelers are also been advised to get vaccinated against chikungunya, with two vaccines available that have been approved in the US.
Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher, told this website: ‘People should be concerned about these diseases, wear topical repellents, wear long sleeves, and get vaccinated against them if they can.’
The CDC says that pregnant women should avoid traveling to high risk areas because they are at higher risk of complications from the virus.
A staff member carries out disinfection work at a hospital amid an outbreak of chikungunya virus in Foshan, Guangdong Province of China
How is the disease treated?
There is no specific treatment for chikungunya virus, though there are several options being investigated, according to the CDC.
Doctors instead focus on trying to ease symptoms through rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relief medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol).
For people who continue to experience pain, over-the-counter pain relievers, steroids and physical therapy are typically the course of treatment.
There are two vaccines available for chikungunya virus and they are recommended for people visiting areas with an outbreak or that may pose a higher risk of infection.
