Countries reporting chikungunya virus transmission - update

Currently, the following countries are reporting people infected with the chikungunya virus:

• Costa Rica: less than 1,000 cases; Provinces most affected: Puntarenas, Guanacaste
• El Salvador: slightly less than 3,250
• Honduras: almost 3,400 cases
• Nicaragua: slightly more than 1,600 cases
• Colombia: more than 5,700 cases
• Venezuela: almost 1,200 cases
• Paraguay: a few sporadic cases

Advice

The absence of reports from other countries does not imply that there is no chikungunya virus transmission in those countries. Reports of chikungunya fever cases from ministries of health and the popular press have slowed over the past 2 weeks, perhaps because of the focus on trying to identify and record cases of Zika virus.

The risk of exposure to this virus will vary from country to country and from place to place within a country. In some localities the risk may be low while in other places it may be high. All travellers to areas where chikungunya fever virus is active can reduce their risk of exposure to this virus by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Many persons with chikungunya fever do not seek medical care and are not reported to health authorities. There may be many more cases in the community that are not reported. Chikungunya virus infections may have long lasting health consequences.