UK warns travellers as imported chikungunya cases rise
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also detected the first cases of the emerging disease oropouche virus in the United Kingdom, all of which were linked to travel from Brazil.
Chikungunya is a virus spread by mosquito bites, the symptoms of which include a sudden fever and joint pain.
According to UKHSA, most people recover within two weeks, although the joint pain can last for months or even years in some cases.
Serious complications are not common, but in rare cases the disease can be fatal, particularly in very young or older people, or those with underlying health conditions.
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The latest travel-associated infections report from UKHSA shows there were 73 cases of chikungunya reported between January and June 2025, compared to 27 cases for the same period last year.
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