WHO warns of dangerous mosquito-borne virus

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a pressing call to action to prevent a resurgence of the chikungunya virus epidemic, reminiscent of the widespread outbreak that gripped the world two decades ago.

New outbreaks originating from the Indian Ocean region have now spread to Europe and other continents, raising alarm among global health officials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Diana Rojas Alvarez, a WHO medical officer, highlighted that approximately 5.6 billion people across 119 countries are currently at risk from the mosquito-borne virus, which causes high fever, severe joint pain, and in some cases, long-term disability.

"We are seeing history repeating itself," Rojas Alvarez told reporters in Geneva, referring to the 2004-2005 epidemic that initially affected nearly half a million people in small island territories before spreading worldwide.

The latest surge began in early 2025, with significant outbreaks reported on the Indian Ocean islands previously impacted, including La Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius. Alarmingly, about one-third of La Reunion’s population has already been infected.

The virus is rapidly spreading to countries such as Madagascar, Somalia, and Kenya, with epidemic transmission confirmed in Southeast Asia, including India.

European health authorities are also growing increasingly concerned as imported cases rise. Since May 1, France has recorded approximately 800 imported chikungunya cases. More worryingly, there have been 12 documented local transmission clusters in southern France, where individuals were infected by local mosquitoes without travel to endemic regions. A case was also recently confirmed in Italy.

Chikungunya is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, including the notorious “tiger mosquito,” which also spreads dengue and Zika viruses. With no specific treatment available, health experts emphasise prevention through measures such as applying insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved clothing, especially as these mosquitoes bite during the daytime.

By Vugar Khalilov