The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the potential for a global outbreak of the chikungunya virus, urging immediate preventive measures to avert a health crisis.
The organization noted it is observing the same early warning signs that preceded a major outbreak two decades ago. In 2004–2005, chikungunya swept through the Indian Ocean region, spread to other continents, and affected nearly half a million people.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes fever and severe joint pain—often debilitating and, in some cases, fatal. WHO Medical Officer Diana Alvarez emphasized that although the disease is not widely recognized, it has been reported in 119 countries, putting an estimated 5.6 billion people at risk.
Alvarez warned that the virus could once again spiral out of control if global health systems fail to act in time.
The WHO also noted the difficulty in diagnosing chikungunya due to its symptoms—fever, rash, and joint pain—which closely resemble those of dengue fever and Zika virus.
