Health authorities in France have raised the alarm as there is a sudden increase in cases of the Chikungunya virus, also known as CHIK fever, and authorities are warning travelers with announcements at various French airports.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that 103 cases – the largest accumulation of the Chikungunya virus in Europe at this time – have been identified in Antibes, one of the most beautiful cities on the French Riviera, which is known as a luxury vacation destination.
Since the beginning of 2025, France has reported 573 cases of chikungunya. Last week, the country identified 93 new local cases, while there are also 45 active cases.
The increase in cases comes after the reporting of 73 cases in the United Kingdom between January and June of this year, compared to 27 cases during the same period in 2024.
What is the Chikungunya virus and how is it transmitted
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes (mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species) and is found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Most cases have been identified in America, Africa, and Asia. Brazil had the most cases in 2025, followed by Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru. In total, approximately 317,000 cases of chikungunya and 135 related deaths have been recorded in 16 countries since the beginning of the year.
In Réunion and Mayotte, two French islands off the east coast of Africa, chikungunya epidemics continue, with the first one having recorded 54,500 cases by August 2025.
Since the beginning of August 2025, over 40,000 cases have been reported in Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and China. Cases have also been reported in Mauritius, Senegal, and Kenya, while European countries have diagnosed imported cases from Madagascar and the Seychelles.
The transmission of the Chikungunya virus in continental Europe is related, according to the ECDC, to travelers who have been infected with the virus outside the area and then traveled unknowingly with infected mosquitoes in their luggage.
“Therefore, the risk of local transmission of the Chikungunya virus, as well as dengue fever, is increasing,” the ECDC emphasized.
In addition to the 573 cases in France, Italy has reported 268 cases since the beginning of 2025.
Symptoms and prevention
The name “Chikungunya” comes from a word used by the Makonde people in Tanzania, where the disease was first discovered in the 1950s. It means “that which bends,” describing the twisted posture of infected individuals who suffer from intense joint pain.
In addition to joint pain, individuals may also experience sudden onset of fever, joint swelling, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and rashes.
Joint pain can be debilitating and usually lasts a few days, but it can also last weeks, months, or even years.
The medical community and populations in Europe now have Vimkunya, the first vaccine in the European Union, which protects people with a marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The vaccine is administered in a single dose from the age of 12.
