A deadly virus surging in a luxury vacation destination has prompted major travel warnings, advising all travelers to ‘practice advanced precautions.’
The CDC has issued a stark health alert for travelers to the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean famous for its turquoise waters and pristine beaches, as well as Suriname, a small country on the northeast coast of South America.
The warning centered on a significant outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus that is seeing a concerning resurgence in this luxury destination.
The advisory places Suriname and the Seychelles under a ‘Level 2’ threat, urging all visitors to implement a strict, multi-layered defense against mosquito bites 24 hours a day, as the primary Aedes mosquitoes bite aggressively during daylight hours.
While the CDC did not specify what precautions travelers should take, a Level 2 warning typically requires using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and ensuring hotel rooms or home rentals are fully sealed with screens or air conditioning.
The virus is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same species that spreads dengue and Zika. Infection brings on a series of debilitating symptoms, including high fever and severe joint pain. Headaches, muscle aches, swelling and rashes are also common.
While most acute symptoms subside within a week, a substantial portion of sufferers experience persistent and painful arthritis that can linger for months or even years. The onset of chikungunya symptoms typically occurs three to seven days following a bite from an infected mosquito.
The CDC specifically highlighted that certain groups face a much higher risk of severe complications, including older adults over 65, individuals with underlying medical conditions such as hypertension or heart disease and, most critically, newborns and pregnant people.
A sanitation worker is pictured spraying insecticide to prevent the spread of chikungunya in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China. The country implemented Covid-style surveillance and infection response efforts, including the widespread spraying of insecticides
The Seychelles sees roughly 11,000 tourists from the US every year, while Suriname receives between 8,000 and 11,000 annually.
Deaths due to chikungunya in the US are extremely rare – less than one in 1,000 – with almost all reported cases being travelers returning from, or visiting, areas with outbreaks. Rare locally acquired cases due to infected mosquitoes have occurred in Florida in 2014 and Texas in 2015.
Last year, Florida health officials confirmed more than 320 cases related to international travel as well as a case of locally-acquired disease.
The first confirmed locally acquired case of chikungunya due to infected mosquitoes in Texas was reported in June 2016 in a Cameron County resident who became ill in November 2015 without traveling.
Most recently, in September 2025, New York health officials reported that a 60-year-old Hempstead, Long Island woman was diagnosed with a suspected case the previous month.
Having not traveled off the island, lab tests have since confirmed she contracted the virus locally, marking the first locally acquired case ever recorded in New York City.
Three additional people in New York tested positive for chikungunya in 2025 after returning from countries where the virus is known to circulate, according to the the city’s Department of Health.
Federal health officials issued a similar travel warning in early December 2025 for Sri Lanka and another in August for Guangdong Province, China
Globally, there were 229 deaths attributed to the virus as well as nearly 486,000 infections.
The above map from the CDC shows Suriname, a country in South America where chikungunya has been detected. The CDC has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the country
Seychelles, a country off the coast of Africa, is pictured above. The CDC has issued a level 2 travel advisory to Americans (stock image)
For a significant number of patients, around 40 percent, the severe joint pain evolves into a chronic, rheumatoid arthritis-like condition. This can persist for months, years or even become a lifelong disability.
The joint pain is often so intense that patients assume a stooped or contorted posture and have difficulty walking or performing basic tasks.
The pain often affects both sides of the body and commonly targets the hands, wrists, ankles and knees. This persistent inflammation can lead to joint stiffness, swelling and erosion visible on X-rays, profoundly impacting mobility, work ability and quality of life.
Although rarer, severe cases can involve the nervous system, leading to encephalitis, or brain inflammation, meningitis, seizures and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks its peripheral nerves.
The CDC noted that a chikungunya vaccine is now available and is recommended for travelers visiting outbreak areas. This represents a crucial tool for prevention, though the advisory includes specific guidance for pregnant individuals, generally recommending waiting until after delivery.
Pregnant travelers, especially those near their due date, to ‘reconsider travel to the affected areas’ entirely. Travelers must monitor themselves for symptoms during their stay and for up to two weeks after returning home, seeking medical attention immediately if fever or joint pain develops.
