Guyana is among several countries in the Americas recording increasing chikungunya cases, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to issue an epidemiological alert and urge governments to strengthen surveillance and preparedness.
In its alert issued from Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, PAHO said the region has been experiencing a sustained rise in chikungunya cases since late 2025, with the re-emergence of local transmission in territories that had not recorded virus circulation for several years.
PAHO noted that in Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname, detections in 2025 and early 2026 suggest a resumption of transmission after nearly a decade without reported cases.
While the trend aligns with expected patterns in areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present, PAHO warned that environmental factors such as extreme temperatures are creating conditions favourable for mosquito breeding, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks.
“Chikungunya spread across the Americas in 2013, and after years of low transmission, we are now observing a resurgence, particularly in the Intertropical Zone where Aedes aegypti is present,” said Sylvain Aldighieri, Director of Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination at PAHO.
He explained that the alert is intended to ensure that governments and health systems are prepared for possible outbreaks and can plan public information campaigns.
PAHO also flagged the continued circulation of both the Asian and East, Central, and South African (ECSA) genotypes, which it said underscores the need for sensitive surveillance and timely response mechanisms.
PAHO is recommending that countries strengthen epidemiological and laboratory surveillance to ensure early detection of cases and outbreaks. It also advised health systems to ensure proper clinical management, especially for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under one year old, older adults, and persons with underlying health conditions.
The organisation further urged countries to intensify integrated vector management, including the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and potentially Aedes albopictus, which also spread dengue and Zika.
Symptoms often include high fever and severe joint pain, which can be debilitating, as well as muscle pain, headache, fatigue, nausea, and rash.
PAHO said chikungunya can also result in chronic joint pain lasting weeks to months in about 60% of cases. There is no specific antiviral treatment, and care is mainly supportive through analgesics and antipyretics.
Globally, between January 1 and December 10, 2025, a total of 502,264 chikungunya cases were reported across 41 countries and territories, including 208,335 confirmed cases and 186 deaths.
In the Americas, 313,132 cases were reported in 2025, including 113,926 confirmed cases and 170 deaths in 18 countries and one territory.
Although overall regional cases declined compared to 2024, PAHO said several countries in South America and the Caribbean have reported increases in specific areas, with sustained rises observed since late 2025.
PAHO is advising the public to use mosquito repellents, bed nets and clothing that covers arms and legs, while avoiding mosquito exposure, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Residents are also encouraged to eliminate breeding sites by emptying, covering or discarding containers that collect water.
PAHO said it will continue monitoring the situation and provide technical support to countries to strengthen surveillance, patient care and vector control measures.
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