Could You Have Chikungunya? The Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Alarmed by the continued spread of the chikungunya virus, U.S. health officials have issued additional travel advisories, warning Americans to use caution when traveling.

Last week, the CDC released two new Level 2 travel notices for the Seychelles and Suriname, advising all travelers to “practice enhanced precautions.”

Last year, a chikungunya outbreak emerged in China, when the country experienced 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.

Additional advisories followed for Kenya, Cuba, Madagascar, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.

While the CDC did not spell out specific steps for travelers, a Level 2 warning typically involves using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and making sure hotel rooms or home rentals are fully protected with screens or air conditioning.

Globally since 2025, more than 240,000 chikungunya cases have been recorded, and 90 chikungunya-related deaths have been reported across 16 countries.

Below, Daily Mail explains what you need to know about chikungunya virus:

What is chikungunya virus and where did it start?

Chikungunya virus is mainly spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the same species that can carry dengue and Zika viruses.

Concern about the virus intensified last summer, when China began reporting an outbreak.

At the time, Roger Hewson, virus surveillance lead at the UK’s Wellcome Sanger Institute, said it was the largest outbreak ever recorded in China.

To curb the spread, Chinese officials ordered travelers from Foshan—the epicenter of the outbreak—to complete a 14-day home quarantine, similar to Covid-era restrictions, though that requirement has since been withdrawn.

Infected patients were isolated in hospital wards under mosquito nets. They were required to stay for a week, or until they tested negative if sooner.

Images also showed Chinese state workers spraying clouds of disinfectant through city streets, residential areas, and construction sites where people might come into contact with infected mosquitoes in or near standing water.

Drones were also reportedly used to identify breeding grounds and spray insecticide, and residents were urged to empty bottles, flower pots, or other outdoor containers that could collect water.

Failure to comply with restrictions could lead to fines of up to $1,400 (10,000 Yuan), and locals were reportedly threatened with having their electricity cut off, according to state media.

The virus is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms.

What are chikungunya virus symptoms?

About 15 to 35 percent of infected people have no symptoms, the CDC reports.

The incubation period is usually three to seven days, and the most common symptom is a sudden fever above 102°F (39°C).

Other symptoms include headache, nausea, rash, muscle aches, swelling, redness of the conjunctiva (the white of the eye and inner eyelids), and joint pain that can be severe and disabling—often affecting the hands or feet.

In severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain can occur, including inflammation, irregular heart rhythms, and organ failure.

Symptoms typically last seven to 10 days, but some patients may develop long-term complications such as persistent joint pain.

Anyone with symptoms, or who believes they may be infected, should contact their primary care provider or seek care at a hospital.

Doctors can diagnose infections using a patient history, symptoms, blood tests, and serum tests.

Is the virus in the US?

Chikungunya is uncommon in the U.S. and is almost always found in people traveling to the U.S., or in those returning to the U.S. from countries where the virus is more widespread.

Last year, there were 466 travel-associated cases and one locally acquired case involving a woman from Long Island.

In September 2025, New York health officials reported that a 60-year-old woman from Hempstead, Long Island, was diagnosed with a suspected case the month before.

Because she had not traveled off the island, lab testing later 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 city’s Department of Health.

Before that, no locally acquired case had been reported in the U.S. since 2015 in Texas.

No deaths have been reported.

The Pan American Health Organization warns that chikungunya cases are increasing across the Americas, with hotspots in Brazil and Bolivia.

What is the CDC saying?

The CDC is urging Americans to take extra precautions when traveling to higher-risk areas.

The agency issued its first Level 2 travel alert in the summer of 2025 for China, which has since been removed.

Chikungunya-related travel advisories from 2025 that remain in effect include Cuba and Sri Lanka.

Health officials also say U.S. travelers face elevated exposure risk in Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.

A CDC Level 2 travel advisory means travelers should “Practice Enhanced Precautions” at their destination. This reflects an increased health risk tied to specific disease activity, and travelers should take additional steps to protect themselves.

The CDC advises travelers to use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning.

Travelers have also been advised to get vaccinated against chikungunya, with two vaccines available that have been approved in the U.S.

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 also says pregnant women should avoid travel to high-risk areas because they face a higher risk of complications from the virus.

How is the disease treated?

There is no specific treatment for chikungunya virus, though several options are being investigated, according to the CDC.

Instead, doctors focus on symptom relief with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

For those who continue to experience pain, treatment often involves over-the-counter pain relievers, steroids, and physical therapy.

Two chikungunya vaccines are available, and they are recommended for people traveling to areas experiencing an outbreak or places that may present a higher risk of infection.