UK reports rise in travel chikungunya; first oropouche cases

Public health officials in Britain have warned holidaymakers to take extra precautions against mosquito bites as travel-associated chikungunya cases surged, with 73 infections recorded in England in the first half of this year—nearly triple the 27 seen in the same period in 2024. All cases are linked to travel, and there is no risk of onward transmission within the UK because the two mosquito species that carry the virus are not established here. At the same time, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the first three cases of oropouche virus detected in the country, all linked to travel from Brazil, underscoring a broader pattern of emerging mosquitoborne and midge-borne infections among travelers.

The chikungunya cases predominantly involve travellers returning from the Indian Ocean area and parts of Asia, with the majority of UK infections linked to Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius. Most of the cases were recorded in England, particularly London. Public health authorities emphasize that while the illness is rarely fatal, it can produce debilitating joint and muscle pain that may persist for weeks, months, or even years. Dr Philip Veal, a consultant in public health at UKHSA,...