The virus will be unfold by insect bites (Picture: Marina Demidiuk through Getty Photographs)
Well being officers have urged individuals to take precautions towards mosquito bites whereas on vacation amid an increase in circumstances of chikungunya amongst travellers coming back from overseas.
The UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) has additionally detected the primary circumstances of the rising illness oropouche virus within the UK.
Chikungunya is a virus unfold by mosquito bites, the signs of which embody a sudden fever and joint ache.
In line with UKHSA, most individuals get better inside two weeks, though the joint ache can final for months and even years in some circumstances.
Critical issues are usually not widespread, however in uncommon circumstances the illness will be deadly, notably in very younger or older individuals, or these with underlying well being circumstances.
The newest travel-associated infections report from UKHSA exhibits there have been 73 circumstances of chikungunya reported between January and June 2025, in comparison with 27 circumstances for a similar interval final yr.
The bulk had been linked to journey to Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius.
A employee makes use of a sprayer to eradicate mosquitos in an effort to forestall the unfold of mosquito-borne illness Chikungunya (Picture: VCG, VCG through Getty Photographs)
All circumstances had been reported in England, primarily in London.
There’s at the moment no threat of onward transmission of chikungunya, as the 2 species of mosquito that transmit the illness are usually not established within the UK, UKHSA mentioned.
The sickness primarily happens in Africa and Asia, particularly southern Asia, though circumstances have been reported in Europe and components of North America.
Nevertheless, this yr there have been outbreaks within the Americas and Asia, with surges in China and the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius.
Dr Philip Veal, advisor in public well being at UKHSA, mentioned: “Chikungunya could be a nasty illness and we’re seeing a worrying enhance in circumstances amongst travellers returning to the UK.
“Whereas this mosquito-borne an infection isn’t deadly, it could possibly trigger extreme joint and muscle ache, complications, sensitivity to gentle and pores and skin rashes. Fortunately signs normally enhance inside a number of weeks, however joint ache might final for months or longer.
“It’s important to take precautions towards mosquito bites when travelling.
“Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk.”
Two chikungunya vaccines are accepted to be used within the UK and are in the stores after an evaluation at a personal journey clinic.
In the meantime, the primary UK circumstances of oropouche virus, which is unfold by midge bites, have been detected by UKHSA.
The three circumstances had been all related to journey to Brazil.
The flu-like sickness may cause a fever, complications, joint ache, muscle ache, chills, nausea and vomiting.
Officers urged anybody who turns into unwell with these signs after journey to affected areas, together with components of Central and South America and the Caribbean, to hunt pressing medical recommendation.
In line with the World Well being Organisation (WHO), earlier than late 2023, oropouche virus was largely reported close to the Amazon rainforest space.
Nevertheless, in 2024, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Peru and the Dominican Republic reported regionally transmitted circumstances of the illness.
The UKHSA report additionally exhibits an increase in travel-associated cholera circumstances within the UK, with eight circumstances within the first half of the yr in comparison with only one in 2024.
Most circumstances had been linked with journey to India and Ethiopia.
There was additionally a 67% lower within the variety of dengue circumstances reported in England, Wales and Northern Eire from January to June, and there have been simply 4 circumstances of zika virus in the course of the interval, down from 9 in 2024.
