Authorities on the French overseas territory of Réunion Island have issued a health alert after more than 4,000 new cases of the chikungunya virus were reported in the space of a week.
Réunion's police prefecture and regional ARS health agency said in a joint statement on Thursday: "The chikungunya epidemic is now widespread throughout the island and is continuing to spread."
Between 10 and 16 March, 4,156 new cases were reported – more than 600 up on the previous week.
"To date, 15 serious cases have been reported, including eight adults and seven newborns," the statement added.
Since August 2024, when the epidemic began on the Indian Ocean territory, 13,594 cases have been reported.
Last week, authorities announced the first two deaths from the current outbreak.
The chikungunya virus is spread by two species of mosquito, which also transmit dengue and zika.
The disease is not usually fatal but can be dangerous for older people or those with other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.
The name “chikungunya” comes from the Kimakonde language of southern Tanzania.
It means “to become contorted” and refers to the bent posture of people suffering from joint pain caused by the virus.
Two die from chikungunya as virus spreads on France's Reunion Island
Vaccine drive
In response to the epidemic, the Franco-Austrian pharmaceutical group Valneva announced that it would supply 40,000 doses of its IXCHIQ vaccine from the beginning of April.
Earlier this month, the French National Authority for Health recommended that people over 65 and adults with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases should be vaccinated as a priority along with mosquito control workers.
The outbreak on the French territory has yet to rival the epidemic between 2005 and 2006 which affected some 260,000 people – a third of the population – and killed at least 225.
Vaccine trials against chikungunya virus 'promising', but more research is still needed
Patrick Mavingui, an infectiologist and researcher at the CRNS based on Réunion, told the French news agency AFP that projections are predicted to peak at the end of April.
"There will still be a strong transmission dynamic between now and then," he added.
Manuel Valls, France's Minister for Overseas Territories, told MPs in the National Assembly: "We are reaching an epidemic level that calls for vigilance and action. The most delicate weeks are the ones ahead."
