Chikungunya in the Americas

27 Jul 2018

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports ongoing transmission of chikungunya in a number countries in the Americas.

Bolivia has reported 74 chikungunya cases from the start of 2018 to 19 June. Bolivia reported only 22 cases in the same period in 2017.

Brazil reports 19 371 cases from the start of the year to 23 June 2018. The trend for 2018 is decreasing compared to previous years.

Costa Rica has reported 63 chikungunya cases from the beginning of the year to 22 June 2018.

El Salvador has reported 171 cases  from the beginning of the year to  7 July 2018. In the same period in 2017, there were 347 cases.

Mexico has reported 11 cases from the start of the year to 30 June 2018

Paraguay has reported 1148 chikungunya cases in 2018, up to 23 June 2018. Among the areas where cases have been confirmed are Central, Amambay, Guaira and Paraguari Departments.

Advice for Travellers

No vaccine is available against chikungunya. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only reliable means of prevention. Methods of bite avoidance include:

• Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
• The use of insect repellant containing DEET  applied to any exposed skin.
• The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets.
• The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
• Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).

For further information see Chikungunya Fever.