The World Health Organization has issued an urgent warning: the chikungunya virus is showing early signs of a major global epidemic in 2025. WHO epidemiologist Diana Rojas Alvarez said that current outbreaks mimic patterns seen before the devastating 2004–2005 chikungunya epidemic. This epidemic affected half a million people.
Rojas Alvarez emphasized that 5.6 billion people across 119 countries are now potentially at risk from this mosquito-borne disease. The virus is now spreading across the Indian Ocean region. It is reaching Madagascar, Somalia, and Kenya, raising serious global public health concerns.
In recent months, Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius have reported widespread chikungunya outbreaks. On Reunion Island, nearly one-third of the population has already been infected.
SIMILAR TO DENGUE AND ZIKA, BUT OFTEN MORE DEBILITATING
Chikungunya causes fever, severe joint pain, and fatigue. Although rarely fatal, its symptoms can be debilitating and long-lasting, sometimes lasting for months.
The disease is often misdiagnosed. Its symptoms resemble those of dengue fever and Zika virus. This similarity makes early detection more difficult in outbreak zones. Rojas Alvarez warned, “When millions are infected, even a one percent fatality rate can lead to thousands of deaths worldwide.”
EUROPE SEES IMPORTED CASES, LOCAL TRANSMISSION DETECTED IN FRANCE
Imported chikungunya cases have already reached Europe, linked to the Indian Ocean outbreaks. Local transmission has occurred in France, with suspected cases in Italy.
These patterns resemble the 2004–2005 epidemic. The virus spread from islands to larger continents. This spread prompted WHO to urge immediate containment measures.
CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVING MOSQUITO MIGRATION NORTHWARD
The virus is spread by two mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the latter also known as the tiger mosquito.
Tiger mosquitoes are expanding into northern regions as global temperatures rise. This is a consequence of climate change. It increases their survival and breeding zones.
These mosquitoes are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Personal protection is critical during those hours of the day.
PREVENTIVE ACTION: WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO NOW
WHO recommends simple but effective protective measures: use mosquito repellents, wear protective clothing, and eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Buckets, pots, and uncovered containers can become mosquito nurseries. Eliminating them helps reduce local transmission risk significantly, especially during warmer months.
URGENT GLOBAL RESPONSE NEEDED TO AVOID REPEATING HISTORY
“This is an early warning,” said Rojas Alvarez. “Countries must strengthen surveillance, diagnosis, and mosquito control before the situation escalates beyond containment.”
Although the fatality rate is low, the sheer scale of infections could put immense strain on health systems and result in long-term public health challenges.
Chikungunya may not be a household name, but it’s a rising global threat. Without coordinated international action, millions could face devastating health consequences.
WHO urges all nations to take proactive steps now, before the virus spreads uncontrollably—turning a preventable outbreak into the next global epidemic.