Causes, symptoms and how to prevent chikungunya - as cases rise in the UK

Health authorities person warned of a "worrying increase" successful cases of a mosquito-borne corruption successful radical returning to the UK from abroad.

A full of 73 cases of chikungunya were reported betwixt January and June 2025 - much than treble the 27 cases reported successful the aforesaid play past year, the UK Health Agency (UKHSA) said.

Data released by the bureau besides revealed 3 cases of oropouche virus, marking the archetypal clip the microorganism has been reported successful the UK.

Here is everything you request to cognize astir some viruses, from symptoms to prevention and what could beryllium down the surge successful cases.

What is chikungunya?

Chikungunya is simply a illness caused by a microorganism of the aforesaid name. It was archetypal identified pursuing an outbreak successful Tanzania successful 1952.

The sanction is derived from a connection successful the Tanzanian connection Makonde, and means "that which bends up", owing to the associated symptom it tin cause.

It is dispersed by mosquito bites, specifically from yellowish fever and tiger mosquitoes, successful tropical and subtropical regions.

What are the symptoms?

Typical symptoms see fever, musculus pain, nausea, fatigue and a rash.

The UKHSA says associated symptom tin persist for months oregon adjacent years, with up to 12% of radical inactive experiencing discomfort 3 years aft infection.

The bulk of radical who go infected retrieve wrong 1 to 2 weeks without needing aesculapian attention.

Serious complications are uncommon, and lone precise uncommon cases are fatal. Babies oregon aged radical with different underlying illnesses are the astir vulnerable.

The 2 mosquitoes known to transmit the disease, yellowish fever and tiger, are not presently recovered successful the UK.

How does oropouche microorganism differ?

Oropouche microorganism is dispersed predominantly by midge bites alternatively than mosquito bites.

While bites from some insects tin origin reddish itchy lumps connected the skin, mosquito bites are mostly larger and much painful, portion midge bites are smaller and whitethorn past longer.

Symptoms tin beryllium akin to chikungunya, and see associated paint, headache, chills, nausea and precocious fever.

The UKHSA says anyone who becomes unwell with these symptoms aft travelling should question "urgent aesculapian advice".

Where tin you drawback the viruses?

Regular outbreaks of chikungunya hap successful Africa, Asia and the Americas, with occasional smaller instances successful Europe.

The UKHSA said the bulk of the 73 reported cases from the archetypal six months of this twelvemonth reported travelling to Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius. The cases were linked to section outbreaks successful the Indian Ocean region.

As of past month, determination person been astir 240,000 cases of chikungunya - and 90 deaths - successful 16 countries, according to the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Meanwhile, each the UK cases of oropouche microorganism were associated with question to Brazil.

Last year, 44 cases were reported successful respective European countries including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, according to the ECDC.

China is presently experiencing the biggest chikungunya outbreak ever documented successful the country, according to Cesar Lopez-Camacho of the University of Oxford.

More than 7,000 cases person been reported since June, with 90% of those concentrated successful Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong.

How to hole earlier travelling

Dr Philip Veal, a advisor successful nationalist wellness astatine UKHSA said it is "essential" for radical to instrumentality precautions against mosquito bites erstwhile travelling.

"Simple steps, specified arsenic utilizing insect repellent, covering up your tegument and sleeping nether insecticide-treated furniture nets tin greatly trim the risk," helium said.

Checking the latest wellness proposal connected your destination earlier you question is besides recommended.

The LSHTM added that radical tin bash the pursuing to trim vulnerability to mosquito and midge bites:
• Fit screens to windows and doors;
• Avoid highest enactment during dusk and dawn;
• Get escaped of immoderate lasting h2o wherever mosquitoes breed.

There are besides 2 vaccines for chikungunya approved for usage successful the UK: IXCHIQ, for radical aged 18 to 59 and Vimkunya, for individuals 12 years and older.

Both are disposable to bargain privately from question clinics aft an appraisal by a healthcare professional.

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What's down the summation successful cases?

The fig of outbreaks of chikungunya has accrued since 2000, Robert Jones, an adjunct prof astatine the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said.

Mr Jones enactment this roar partially down to clime alteration and municipality expansion.

Dr Yang Liu, different prof astatine LSHTM, said the outbreak successful China is not wholly unexpected, but highlights the manifestation of a known risk, arsenic yellowish fever and tiger mosquitoes person been contiguous successful the country for galore years.