France's La Reunion Island Reports Chikungunya Outbreak

The European CDC Communicable Disease Threats Report, published on August 30, 2024, disclosed that France had reported three autochthonous (locally-acquired) chikungunya virus disease cases in the Department of La Réunion from the same neighborhood.

The last major chikungunya outbreak in La Réunion was from 2005 to 2006.

The ECDC says the risk of chikungunya infection for residents and travelers to La Réunion is currently low. This mosquito-transmitted disease activity has been reduced as it's winter in La Réunion.

However, further cases cannot be excluded, says the ECDC.

La Réunion is an island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and Africa that welcomes over 350,000 visitors annually.

As of September 2, 2024, the U.S. CDC had not issued a Travel Healht Advisory regarding La Réunion's chikungunya outbreak.

From a disease prevention option, Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® single-dose, live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine has been approved by the U.S. FDA and throughout Europe. Travel vaccination services are offered throughout the United States at certain pharmacies and Passport Health USA.