Billions at risk of mosquito-borne virus that causes the body to ‘fold together', warns WHO – the 8 signs to spot
Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease that causes crippling joint pain and leaves some victims riddled with deformities is tearing through parts of the Indian Ocean and edging closer to Europe.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it's seeing the same warning signs as in the last major outbreak two decades ago, when nearly half a million were infected worldwide.
"We are seeing history repeating itself," said Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO's technical lead on the virus.
She explained that the bug is now spreading from Indian Ocean islands into Africa, Asia and Europe, and urged countries to act now to avoid billions falling ill.
There is no treatment or jab for the disease, which in some cases can be fatal, especially for vulnerable people like newborns, older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
The latest outbreak began in early 2025, with major surges in La Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius - the same islands hammered in 2004.
One-third of the population of La Reunion is thought to have already been infected.
The virus has now spread to Madagascar, Somalia and Kenya, with epidemic transmission also occurring in Southeast Asia, including India.
"Chikungunya is not a disease that is widely known, but it has been detected and transmitted in 119 countries globally, putting 5.6 billion people at risk," Dr Diana said.
In Europe, officials are especially concerned about a spike in imported cases, and signs of the virus being transmitted locally.
Since May 1, there have been around 800 imported chikungunya cases in mainland France, Dr Rojas Alvarez revealed.
What is Chikungunya
Even more worrying, there have been 12 local transmission episodes in several regions of southern France - meaning people were infected by mosquitoes in Europe, not while travelling.
A case has also been detected in Italy, while the WHO says suspected cases have cropped up in other parts of the continent.
Last year, Europe saw a sharp surge in mosquito-borne diseases — including dengue, West Nile, and malaria — with some infections doubling in just 12 months.
Symptoms of chikungunya can be flu-like, which makes it hard to diagnose at first. But patients have also reported excruciating pain and swelling, especially in the hands and feet, which can cause the body to take on a hunched or 'folded' posture.
In places where people have little or no immunity, up to three-quarters of the population can become infected, the WHO warned.
"The case fatality rate is less than one percent, but when you start counting millions of cases, that one percent can be thousands," Dr Diana said.
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"We are raising the alarm early so countries can prepare early, detect and strengthen all the capacities to avoid going through very large outbreaks."
The tiger mosquito, which can also carry dengue and Zika, is spreading further north due to climate change, and is now found in parts of southern England, France, and Italy.
Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, these biters are most active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
WHO is urging the public to take basic steps to protect themselves like using repellent, wearing long sleeves, and clearing standing water from buckets and containers where mozzies breed.
Chikungunya: Signs and symptoms
Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, which spreads to humans through infected mosquitoes.
Major outbreaks and scattered cases have been reported across the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Now, with smaller flare-ups starting to appear in Europe, it's important to be aware of the symptoms.
Not everyone infected with chikungunya will show symptoms, but for those who do, symptoms typically begin 4 to 8 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include:
Sudden onset of high fever
Severe joint pain (often debilitating)
Joint swelling, especially in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet
Muscle pain
Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Rash
Most patients recover fully from chikungunya infection, although occasional cases can involve serious complications affecting the eyes, heart, or nervous system. Some can also be left with deformities.
Newborns, infected either during delivery or by mosquito bites shortly after birth, and older adults with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe disease.
In such cases, hospitalisation may be necessary due to the risk of organ damage and even death.
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