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Chikungunya: risks for travellers
Fabrice Simon1, Eric Caumes2, Tomas Jelinek3
1Service de Pathologie Infectieuse et Tropicale, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Laveran, Marseille, France.
Journal of Travel Medicine
|January 17, 2023
Summary
Chikungunya outbreaks are increasing, yet awareness remains low among travelers and healthcare professionals. This review highlights risks, prevention, and chronic symptoms to improve diagnosis and reporting of this mosquito-borne illness.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Chikungunya outbreaks are evolving globally, with increasing travel-related cases in non-endemic regions.
- Low awareness among travelers and healthcare professionals contributes to underdiagnosis and underreporting of Chikungunya.
- Expanding mosquito habitats due to climate change increase the risk of Chikungunya virus transmission.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on Chikungunya epidemiology, transmission, and clinical manifestations.
- It emphasizes the importance of travel advisories and personal protective measures for at-risk travelers.
- The review also discusses emerging vaccines and risk factors for long-term sequelae.
Key Points:
- Chikungunya virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with symptoms including fever and joint pain, which can become chronic.
- Viremic travelers have initiated Chikungunya clusters and outbreaks in Europe and North America.
- Individual prevention focuses on personal protection against daytime mosquito bites.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals need enhanced awareness of Chikungunya risks for travelers, including potential chronic rheumatologic sequelae.
- Travelers visiting endemic areas should be informed about risks, prevention, and seeking medical evaluation if symptomatic.
- Future vaccine strategies may target specific populations based on risk factors for persistent symptoms.
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