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Chikungunya in the Americas and Caribbean (Update 1)

31 Aug 2017

Chikungunya continues to be transmitted by mosquitoes in the Americas and the Caribbean. Brazil remains the country with the largest number of cases (163 135). 

Countries affected, with total case numbers, are shown below. Country groupings are as described by PAHO/WHO.

North America

Mexico: 44

Central American Isthmus 

Costa Rica: 262
El Salvador: 386
Guatemala: 216
Nicaragua: 614
Panama: 1589

Latin Caribbean 

French Guiana: 172
Guadaloupe: 11
Martinique: 24
Puerto Rico: 8
Saint Barthelemy: 3
Saint Martin (France): 3

Andean Area 

Bolivia: 3205
Colombia: 797
Ecuador: 155
Peru: 1436
Venezuela: 98

Southern Cone 

Brazil: 163 135
Paraguay: 744

Advice for Travellers

No vaccine is available against chikungunya. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only reliable means of prevention. Methods of bite avoidance include:

  • Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
  • The use of insect repellant containing DEET  applied to any exposed skin.
  • The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets.
  • The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
  • Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).

For further information see Chikungunya Fever.