The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued Level 2 travel advisories for several countries experiencing outbreaks of chikungunya virus, a lesser-known but potentially debilitating mosquito-borne illness that continues to spread across Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The affected countries currently under advisory include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cuba, and Guangdong Province in China, with several other destinations marked as having an “elevated risk” of exposure for American travelers.
According to Fox5, health officials are particularly concerned about the virus’s capacity to cause severe joint pain that can persist for months after initial infection. This symptom distinguishes it from other mosquito-transmitted diseases. While most cases resolve within a week, the CDC warns that vulnerable populations such as young children and older adults with underlying health conditions face higher risks of severe symptoms and, in rare instances, death.
Understanding Chikungunya Symptoms And Transmission
Chikungunya virus, primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, typically begins showing symptoms within three to seven days after exposure. The most common indicators include fever and joint pain, often accompanied by headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. The CDC reports that while most people recover completely within a week, some individuals may experience lingering joint pain that persists for months or even years, particularly affecting the hands, feet, knees, and spine.
The World Health Organization notes that severe symptoms and deaths from chikungunya remain rare, typically occurring in more vulnerable populations such as infants or older adults with existing health conditions. Unlike some other mosquito-borne illnesses, chikungunya rarely causes asymptomatic cases — most infected individuals develop noticeable symptoms requiring rest and care.
Countries At Risk And CDC Recommendations
Beyond the nations currently experiencing outbreaks — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cuba, and Guangdong Province in China — the CDC is actively monitoring several additional destinations with an “elevated risk” of chikungunya exposure. These include popular travel destinations such as Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand. The travel advisories come with specific recommendations for travelers visiting affected regions.
The CDC suggests vaccination against the virus for those visiting areas with current outbreaks and recommends considering vaccination for travelers planning extended stays in regions with elevated risk. Notably, the agency notes that there have been no locally acquired cases of chikungunya in the United States or its territories since at least 2019. However, the situation abroad continues to warrant caution for international travelers venturing into affected areas.
How Travelers Can Protect Themselves
For travelers planning trips to regions affected by chikungunya, preventive measures extend beyond vaccination considerations. The CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents containing active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 on exposed skin.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants treated with permethrin offers additional protection, particularly during peak mosquito activity times at dawn and dusk. The CDC regularly publishes both country-specific and global health advisories to alert travelers to concerns worldwide, including recent guidance on increased rabies cases in Haiti and India, and updated global travel alerts on polio affecting destinations like the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Kenya.
The Level 2 alert for chikungunya advises “enhanced precautions.” Still, it stops short of recommending travel cancellations, unlike the more severe Level 3 and Level 4 warnings, of which none are currently in effect for chikungunya or other health concerns.
