07 Jan 2025 | 11:45 AM UTC
Reunion: Elevated chikungunya activity reported in multiple areas in early January /update 1
Elevated chikungunya activity reported in multiple areas in Reunion in early January. Avoid mosquito bites.
Health authorities have reported elevated chikungunya activity in Reunion, with 85 additional cases reported Dec. 17-31, bringing the total case count to 138 since Aug. 23, 2024. The last indigenous case detected in Reunion dates back to before 2015. The cases are spread across five active clusters, including in the commune of Etang-Sale (Sheunon Ravine, 70 cases), Saint-Paul (Ermitage, 12 cases), Le Tampon (Grand-Bassin, 7 cases; Trois-Mares-les-Bas, 8 cases), and on Line 400 located in the municipalities of Le Tampon and Saint-Pierre (7 cases). The outbreak has reached the pre-epidemic stage on the island. Health officials began vector control and public awareness efforts on Aug. 23, advising the public to take necessary prevention measures and eliminate mosquito breeding sites around their homes. This report represents the most complete data available as of Jan. 7, 2025.
Avoid mosquito bites and remove standing water to reduce the number of biting mosquitoes. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas.
In Reunion, the warm, wet, and humid season runs from November to April, creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding and virus transmission. The last major outbreak occurred between 2005 and 2006 when roughly 255,000 cases were reported. In previous years, the case counts were roughly five cases in 2009 and 112 cases in 2010.
Chikungunya is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and rash. Symptoms typically appear 3-7 days after being bitten but can develop up to 12 days after exposure. Most people recover within a week, but joint pain can persist for months.
